Chessy
Australian Defense: play 1...Na6 with Black
The Australian Defense is unusual from the first move, and the drill shows why White gets a pleasant game quickly. After 1.d4 Na6, you are already asking your opponent to choose a plan against a move that does not help central control or development in the normal way. Stockfish rates the position +1.13, a clear, lasting advantage for White. That means you are worse here, so the lesson is not about memorising a flashy trap — it is about surviving an offbeat start and finding your most reliable reply.
Play the Australian Defense against the engine
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Create a free account →What White usually does next
The database shows that White has several natural ways to continue, and all of them score well for White. The most-played reply is e4, and the engine also points to e4 as the best move. Other common choices are c4, Bf4, e3, Nf3, and Nc3. That tells you the same practical lesson every time: White can simply develop, take space, and keep a healthy advantage while you are still sorting out your pieces.
The engine’s main recommendation
In the critical position, the engine’s best move for White is e4, continuing e4 e6 Nf3 d5. You do not need to learn a long forcing line here to get value from the drill. The important idea is that White can make normal central moves and maintain the initiative, while you should focus on completing development, keeping your position solid, and avoiding extra weaknesses. If you try to chase tactics too early, you usually make the position easier for White.
What the numbers say
Across 73,389 games at this exact position, White wins 61.2%, draws 5.7%, and Black wins 33.1%. That is a very clear warning sign for anyone choosing this opening with Black. The most-played continuations also favour White: e4 appears in 19,538 games with White scoring 62.5%; c4 appears in 13,345 games with White scoring 64.2%; Bf4 appears in 10,791 games with White scoring 63.3%; e3 appears in 8,963 games with White scoring 61.0%; Nf3 appears in 8,621 games with White scoring 62.0%; and Nc3 appears in 3,338 games with White scoring 57.6%.
How to handle the position as Black
Because the opening starts with a knight move that does not fight the centre directly, your main job is to make the rest of your setup as sound as possible. Aim for quick development, good king safety, and simple piece coordination. Do not be tempted to overpress just because the opening is rare. The practical goal is to reach a playable middlegame without giving White even more help. In the drill, try to stay calm when White chooses a natural developing move, and look for the most stable continuation rather than the most ambitious one.
Results across 73,389 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e4 | 19,538 | 62.5% |
| c4 | 13,345 | 64.2% |
| Bf4 | 10,791 | 63.3% |
| e3 | 8,963 | 61.0% |
| Nf3 | 8,621 | 62.0% |
| Nc3 | 3,338 | 57.6% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Australian Defense good for Black?
The statistics here are poor for Black. Stockfish gives +1.13, which is a clear, lasting advantage for White, and the game results also favour White strongly. If you use it, you should expect to defend a difficult position rather than equalise easily.
What is the best move for White after 1.d4 Na6?
The engine’s best move is e4. The suggested continuation is e4 e6 Nf3 d5, which shows White using simple central play and development to keep the edge.
What are White’s most common replies in this position?
The most-played continuations are e4, c4, Bf4, e3, Nf3, and Nc3. Every one of those has White scoring well in the database, so you should be ready for a straightforward developing move rather than a trick.
What should Black focus on in the drill?
Focus on staying solid and developing quickly. Since White already has the better chances, your task is to avoid extra weaknesses and reach a safe middlegame with your pieces working together.
How many games feature the Australian Defense?
Over 73K Lichess games have reached the Australian Defense position. White wins 61.2%, Black wins 33.1%, with 5.7% draws — based on real rated games.