Balogh Defense

Balogh Defense

a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Moves	1.e4 d6 2.d4 f5 or 1.d4 f5 2.e4 d6 or 1.d4 d6 2.e4 f5
ECO	B07 or A82 or A41
Named after	János Balogh
Parent	Pirc Defense or Staunton Gambit or Pillsbury Defense
Synonym	Balogh Countergambit

The Balogh Defense ^[1] (also known as the Balogh Countergambit) is an unusual chess opening beginning with the moves:

1. e4 d6

2. d4 f5

It may also arise by transposition from the Staunton Gambit of the Dutch Defense, 1.d4 f5 2.e4, if Black declines the gambit with 2...d6. Or it may arise by 1.d4 d6 (the Pillsbury Defense) 2.e4 f5.

The opening is rarely seen today because it weakens Black's kingside somewhat and often results in a backward e-pawn or a hole on e6 after Black's bishop is exchanged. Hikaru Nakamura used the line to beat grandmaster Eugene Perelshteyn in the HB Global Chess Challenge 2005. ^[2]

History

The defense is named after János Balogh (1892–1980), who was a Hungarian International Master of correspondence chess, and a strong master at over-the-board chess, who analysed it in Wiener Schachzeitung, 1930. The opening variation 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f5 was first published by Cozio in the first volume of his 1740 treatise. The line was played in game 5 ^[3] of the Kieseritzky–Horowitz match in 1846. ^[1]

Assessment

International Correspondence Chess Master Keith Hayward has written a series of articles arguing that the defense, though risky, is playable . ^[4]

Most books, if they mention the Balogh Defense at all, say that it is refuted by 3.exf5 Bxf5 4.Qf3 Qc8 5.Bd3. Hayward recommends the move 5...Bg4 in response. An alternative line is 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bd3. Balogh liked 4...Nc6, but Hayward considers 5.exf5! Nxd4 6.g4 difficult for Black, instead recommending 4...fxe4, with the continuation 5.Nxe4 Nxe4 6.Bxe4.

See also

• List of chess openings
• List of chess openings named after people

References

1. Hooper, David; Whyld, Kenneth (1996) [First pub. 1992], "Balogh Defence", The Oxford Companion to Chess (2nd ed.), Oxford University Press, p. 28, ISBN   0-19-280049-3
2. "Perelshteyn vs. Nakamura, Minneapolis 2005". Chessgames.com . Retrieved 19 October 2025.
3. "Kieseritzky vs. Horowitz, rd 5, London 1846". Chessgames.com . Retrieved 25 October 2025.
4. Hayward, Keith R. Balogh Counter Gambit, Part 1 from Chessville.com

External links

• Hayward, Keith R. Balogh Counter Gambit, Part 1
• Hayward, Keith R. Balogh Counter Gambit, Part 2: Janos Balogh, the Man and His Games
• Hayward, Keith R. Balogh Counter Gambit, Part 3: White plays an early exf5
• Hayward, Keith R. Balogh Counter Gambit, Part 4: Balogh's Main Line
• Hayward, Keith R. Balogh Counter Gambit, Part 5: Remaining Lines
• Hayward, Keith R. Balogh Counter Gambit, Part 6 (analysis of Perelshteyn–Nakamura)
• Symmetry and chaos: Balogh's Defense. from Chesscafe.com