Pirc Defense
ECO B07-B09beginner
The Pirc, 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6, is a true hypermodern defense: Black invites White to occupy the full center, then attacks it with pieces and the timed pawn breaks ...e5 or ...c5. The fianchettoed g7 bishop is Black's pride, raking the long diagonal once the center opens. White must choose a temperament — the all-out Austrian Attack (4.f4), the flexible Classical (4.Nf3), or the blunt 150 Attack (Be3 and Qd2) — and each defines a completely different game.
Main line
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.e5 dxe5
Diagram shows the position after 6 half-moves of the main line. On SpeakChess you can drill this line move by move — the trainer plays the other side and corrects you instantly, then spaced repetition schedules each variation so you review it right before you would forget it.
Win rates by rating
Results from real online games, measured after the line shown in each row. Most opening sites show one aggregate number — how an opening scores depends heavily on who is playing it.
| Rating | Games | White wins | Draws | Black wins | Position after |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400-600 | 76 | 47.4% | 5.3% | 47.4% | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 |
| 600-800 | 634 | 48.6% | 4.1% | 47.3% | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 |
| 800-1000 | 32 | 43.7% | 9.4% | 46.9% | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 |
| 1000-1200 | 29 | 58.6% | 0% | 41.4% | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3 Nc6 |
| 1200-1400 | 55 | 47.3% | 0% | 52.7% | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3 Nc6 |
Most played continuations (600-800 rating)
After 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6:
- Nf3 — played 46.2% of the time (White wins 43%, draws 4.8%, Black wins 52.2%)
- e5 — played 9.3% of the time (White wins 45.8%, draws 1.7%, Black wins 52.5%)
- Bc4 — played 7.9% of the time (White wins 56%, draws 4%, Black wins 40%)
Frequently asked questions
Is the Pirc Defense good for club players?
It rewards players who genuinely understand its counterattacking plans and punishes those who play it passively. Because White gets a free hand in the center, every Pirc player must know exactly when ...e5 and ...c5 strike — learn those breaks and the Pirc becomes a dangerous, low-theory weapon.
What is White's most dangerous reply to the Pirc?
The Austrian Attack, 4.f4, grabbing maximum space and preparing e5. Black counters with the precise ...Bg7, ...c5 (or ...0-0 and ...Na6) sequences — meeting a pawn storm with a central counterpunch is the defining skill of the whole defense.
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