The Barry Attack is a chess opening for White that usually arises via the move order 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4. Black usually plays 4...Bg7 after which the most popular continuation is 5.e3 0-0 6.Be2; however, 5.Qd2, the "Tarzan Attack", is also. The Barry Attack is a Queen's Pawn Opening (ECO code D00) and is normally used against Black defenses such as the King's Indian Defense, the East Indian Defense, and the Pirc Defense. Noted regular practitioners of this opening include GMs Niaz Murshed, Mark Hebden, and also Aaron Summerscale, who wrote the book A Killer Chess Opening Repertoire surveying both the Barry Attack and the related 150 Attack.

Characteristics

The effectiveness of the Barry Attack has been analyzed and debated extensively by both proponents and detractors. The opening normally involves an aggressive attack by White, often including the sacrifice of one or more of White's pieces to set up a checkmate. An instructive game is GM Pavel Blatny–Martin Fette, Vienna 1991, in which Blatny forced his opponent's king into the middle of the board and had mate in one after 23.e4: