A40

Australian Defense

1. d4 Na6
♜♝♛♚♝♞♜♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♞♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♟♜♞♝♛♚♝♞♜
The position after 1. d4 Na6, White to move.

In the Australian Defense, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.

See how you play it

The Australian Defense is a chess opening classified under ECO code A40. It is reached after the moves 1. d4 Na6: 2 moves in, with White to play.

Learn its typical plans and pawn structures rather than memorizing moves — that’s what holds up over the board.

Club players rarely lose the Australian Defense in the opening itself. They lose it a few moves later, when the plan behind the moves runs out: that is what reading your own games in this line shows you.

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Related openings

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See how you play this opening