Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Weiss Variation
The Weiss Variation is the Austrian Attack line 4...Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3, where White puts the bishop on d3 to support e5 and aim at h7. White plans O-O and a kingside push, while Black hits the center with ...Na6 and ...c5 or ...Nc6-b4.
- Moves
- 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3
- ECO
- B09
- Engine
- +0.66 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 554 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 52.1%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Castle short and keep e5 ready; the d3 bishop then hits h7 directly.
- Against ...Nc6, play h3 so ...Bg4 is not possible, and meet ...Nb4 with Be2 to keep the bishop.
- After ...c5 push d5 to keep the center closed and gain space.
- If Black plays ...c5 at once, take on c5 and push e5, as the third engine line shows.
Black
- Play 6...Nc6, then ...Nb4 to chase the d3 bishop.
- Try ...Na6 and ...c5, then pin the f3 knight with ...Bg4 and take it.
- After d5, play ...e6 to open the center and use the g7 bishop.
- Avoid ...c5 before your pieces are ready; White's e5 push gets stronger.
Plans and pawn structure
White has the big pawn center with Bd3, Nf3 and O-O, and plans e5 or f5 with a kingside attack. Black castled early and must undermine the center: ...Nc6-b4 to trade the d3 bishop, or ...Na6 and ...c5 to hit d4. After d5, Black plays ...e6 and ...exd5 to open lines for the g7 bishop. If the center holds and e5 comes, White's attack is strong.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.66: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.66 6...Nc6 7.h3 Nb4 8.Be2 c5 9.d5
- +0.78 6...Na6 7.O-O c5 8.d5 Bg4 9.h3
- +0.88 6...c5 7.dxc5 dxc5 8.e5 Nd5 9.Nxd5
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
554 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.1%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
How to play against it
As Black, play 6...Nc6 or 6...Na6 and aim for ...c5. Trade the d3 bishop with ...Nb4 when you can. Do not allow e5 without counterplay, and remove the f3 knight with ...Bg4 if it helps.
Questions
What are the moves of the Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Weiss Variation?
The Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Weiss Variation starts 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3. Its ECO code is B09.
Is the Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Weiss Variation good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.66 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 554 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.1%. A dangerous attacking setup for White, while Black needs to know the ...Nb4 and ...c5 counterplay.
What is the main idea of the Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Weiss Variation?
White puts the bishop on d3 to support e5 and aim at h7. Black uses ...Nc6-b4 or ...Na6 and ...c5 to hit the center and trade White's key bishop.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is Nc6, with Na6 and c5 close behind. 6...Nc6 develops and prepares ...Nb4 to trade the d3 bishop.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.