The Keres Defence (also known as the Kangaroo Defence) is a chess opening characterised by the moves: The opening is named after Estonian grandmaster Paul Keres.

This opening was known since the 1840s and was played by Henry Thomas Buckle in his fourth match game with Johann Löwenthal, London 1851.

[1][2] The standard reply today, 3.Bd2, was recommended by Howard Staunton.

3.Nc3 is likely to transpose into one of those openings: 3...Nf6 (Nimzo-Indian), 3...f5 (Dutch; Korn gives 3...Bxc3+ 4.bxc3 f5!,[3] played by Buckle) 3...d5 (an unusual form of QGD), or 3...b6 (English).

Or Black can allow White to play e4: 3...Qe7 4.e4 d5 (Black obtained a good game in Llanos–Hoffman, San Luis Clarin 1995 with 4...Nf6 5.a3 Bxd2+ 6.Nxd2 d6 7.Bd3 e5 8.d5 0-0)[4] 5.Bxb4 (5.e5 Timman–Spraggett, Montpellier 1985)[5][6] Qxb4+ 6.Qd2!