51. Hungarian Defence: the d5 Push
The Hungarian Defence (3...Be7) is solid but passive. After 4.d4 d6 5.d5 the knight returns to b8, White reinforces the centre with Bd3 and c4 and gets a closed structure with more space.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Be7 4.d4 d6 5.d5 Nb8 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.c4 O-O 8.Nc3
Move by move
- 1.e4 – Occupies the centre and frees the queen and the f1-bishop, which in the Italian Game goes to c4 to aim at the weak f7 point.
- 1...e5 – Black contests the centre at once: the e5 pawn controls d4 and f4 and opens the diagonal for the f8-bishop and the queen.
- 2.Nf3 – Development with an attack: the knight hits the e5 pawn, controls d4 and prepares quick kingside castling.
- 2...Nc6 – Defends e5 while developing and adds control of d4, the square White wants for a pawn.
- 3.Bc4 – The Italian Game move: the bishop aims at f7, defended only by the king, and controls d5, making ...d5 harder to achieve.
- 3...Be7 – The Hungarian Defence: Black gives up the pressure of ...Bc5 or ...Nf6 and chooses a solid but passive position, with no targets for White's attack on f7.
- 4.d4 – Against the passive set-up White immediately occupies the centre and attacks e5.
- 4...d6 – Black supports e5 with the pawn: the structure recalls the Philidor Defence, solid but short of space.
- 5.d5 – White closes the centre with tempo: the c6-knight must retreat and the d5-pawn gives White permanent space.
- 5...Nb8 – The knight goes back home: it will re-enter via d7, a slow manoeuvre typical of closed structures.
- 6.Bd3 – The bishop leaves c4 to make room for the c-pawn, which will support d5; on d3 it defends e4.
- 6...Nf6 – Black develops the knight and attacks e4, defended by the d3-bishop.
- 7.c4 – The pawn supports d5 and gains space on the queenside: White prepares the c4-c5 expansion.
- 7...O-O – Black castles: in this closed structure it will seek counterplay with ...Nh5 and ...f5 on the kingside.
- 8.Nc3 – The knight defends e4 and completes the development of the queenside: White has more space and a clear plan with c5.
How to exploit the position
A closed structure: White has more space thanks to the d5, c4 and e4 pawns; Black is solid but must find counterplay with ...f5. White plays on the queenside, Black on the kingside.
- h3 and O-O, then Be3 and b4: prepare the c5 push, which opens the c-file against the d6-pawn.
- Against ...Nh5 and ...f5 keep e4 well defended (Nc3, Bd3, Re1) and do not allow ...Nf4 with tempo on the bishop: g3 or Be3 control the square.
- Black's knight will try ...Na6-c5 against the d3-bishop: Bc2 or b4 take the square away.
- If Black plays ...c6, answer with dxc6 only if the d6-pawn stays weak; otherwise keep the d5-e4 chain.
Master tips
The c4-c5 plan
With the centre closed White must open the queenside: b4 and c5 attack the base of Black's chain on d6.