Pirc Defense
You play Black · 16 variations
Mixed practice
The machine picks a different variation every time.
Take a quiz
10 positions: find the next theory move in each. No take-backs, no hints.
Main variations · 11
- Classical Variation, Quiet System, Chigorin LineB081. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O Nc66 moves
- Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech DefenseB081. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O c66 moves
- Classical Variation, Quiet System, Parma DefenseB081. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O Bg46 moves
- Classical Variation, Schlechter VariationB081. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. h35 moves
- Austrian Attack, Unzicker Attack, Bronstein VariationB091. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. e5 Nfd7 7. h47 moves
- Austrian Attack, Kurajica VariationB091. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be36 moves
- Austrian Attack, Weiss VariationB091. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd36 moves
- Austrian Attack, Dragon FormationB091. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 c55 moves
- Austrian Attack, Ljubojevic VariationB091. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Bc45 moves
- 150 Attack, Inner Doll DefenseB071. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 c6 5. Qd2 Bg45 moves
- 150 Attack, Sveshnikov-Jansa AttackB071. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 c6 5. h35 moves
Other variations · 5
- Bayonet AttackB071. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. h45 moves
- Chinese VariationB071. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. g45 moves
- Kholmov SystemB071. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bc44 moves
- Roscher GambitB001. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nf33 moves
- Sveshnikov SystemB071. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g34 moves
What is the Pirc Defense?
The Pirc Defense starts 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6. Black lets White build a broad pawn centre, fianchettoes the bishop on g7 and plans to strike at the centre later with ...e5 or ...c5. It is a hypermodern, flexible and somewhat risky defence, less common at the top than the main replies to 1.e4 but a well-known fighting choice at every level.
Main ideas and plans
After the fianchetto and short castling, your main decision is which break to choose. Against the Classical Variation, 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 O-O 6.O-O, White plays calmly, and you can choose between ...c6 with queenside expansion by ...b5 (the Czech Defense), ...Bg4 to pressure d4 (the Parma Defense), or ...Nc6 followed by ...e5 (the Chigorin Line). These positions are strategic and resemble a King's Indian with fewer pawns in the centre.
White's most aggressive tries need precise answers. The Austrian Attack, 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3, builds a huge centre and threatens e5. A common reply is to hit the centre at once with 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 c5, the Dragon Formation, or you castle first and meet e5 with ...Nfd7 and counterattack against the advanced pawns. The 150 Attack, 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.Qd2, aims for Bh6 to exchange your fianchettoed bishop, followed by long castling and h4-h5; here you usually play for ...b5 and quick queenside counterplay rather than castling straight into the attack.
Who is it for?
The Pirc suits flexible, counterattacking players who like asymmetrical positions and are comfortable letting the opponent take space. It avoids much of the mainstream 1.e4 theory, but it hands White the initiative, and if you misjudge the timing of ...e5 or ...c5 you can be overrun in the centre or mated on the kingside. Learn first how to meet the Austrian Attack and the plans with Be3 and Qd2, and understand when it is wiser to delay castling.