Chessy
Queen's Gambit Declined: Austrian Attack, Salvio Countergambit
This opening starts with a sharp pawn grab and an immediate space push, but the position after 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c5 3.dxc5 d4 is not a free lunch for Black. White is to move, and the engine says White has the safer game. Your job in the drill is to stay calm, meet the most common replies well, and learn which White tries you can punish when they drift. If you want a practical answer as Black, this is a good place to train your reactions rather than memorise long theory.
Play the Queen's Gambit Declined: Austrian Attack, Salvio Countergambit against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position says straight away
Stockfish rates this +0.60, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here, so your task is not to prove the opening is equal by force, but to solve the early problems move by move.
The most important practical point is that White already has a choice of plans, and several of them are common. In this kind of position, you need a simple development plan and good awareness of what White is trying to achieve next.
The engine move to know
The engine's best move is Nf3. The listed continuation is Nf3 Nc6 e3 e5, which tells you the kind of game Black wants after the first move: quick development, central support, and no panic.
For a learner, the value of this line is not to memorise every move, but to understand the theme. Meet White's development with development of your own, and keep the central tension under control.
Which White replies you will see most often
This exact position has been reached 195,519 times in the Lichess database, so the drill is based on a very real tabiya.
The most-played continuations are:
- Nf3 — 128,554 games
- e3 — 41,129 games
- b4 — 10,935 games
- e4 — 3,489 games
- Bf4 — 3,038 games
- a3 — 1,974 games
That spread matters. You are not preparing for one forced line; you are preparing for a family of White plans, with Nf3 and e3 especially important.
The moves that go wrong
The database and engine agree on a few practical mistakes:
- b4 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.6 pawns; better was Nf3
- e4 is a mistake and loses about 1.2 pawns; better was Nf3
- Bf4 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.9 pawns; better was Nf3
That gives you a useful training target. When White overextends or sidesteps development, you should be ready to stay active and not let the position become comfortable for your opponent.
Results across 195,519 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 128,554 | 47.5% |
| e3 | 41,129 | 47.8% |
| b4 | 10,935 | 50.8% |
| e4 | 3,489 | 43.4% |
| Bf4 | 3,038 | 41.9% |
| a3 | 1,974 | 52.4% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Queen's Gambit Declined: Austrian Attack, Salvio Countergambit good for Black?
It is playable, but the numbers here say White is a little better after the opening moves. That means Black should treat it as a practical fighting choice, not as a line that promises an easy equal game.
What is the main move I should expect White to play?
Nf3 is by far the most common continuation, with e3 also very popular. If you know how to face those two ideas, you will cover most of the practical games from this position.
Which White moves should I watch out for?
The database flags b4, e4, and Bf4 as weaker choices than Nf3. If White plays one of those, the position tends to give Black better chances than the more popular development moves do.
What should I learn from the engine line?
The best move is Nf3, and the engine continuation shows a straightforward developing battle. As Black, that means your focus should be on calm development and central control, not on trying to force tactics immediately.
How many games feature the Queen's Gambit Declined: Austrian Attack, Salvio Countergambit?
Over 195K Lichess games have reached the Queen's Gambit Declined: Austrian Attack, Salvio Countergambit position. White wins 47.5%, Black wins 48.9%, with 3.6% draws — based on real rated games.