Pirc Defense B00

B — Semi-open games · Family: Pirc Defense

1. e4 d6

The Pirc Defense (1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6) lets White build the ideal center — then attacks it, and the king, with the g6-bishop and timely ...e5/...c5 breaks. Named after the Slovenian grandmaster Vasja Pirc, it became a serious weapon in the 1970s and remains the sharpest of the flexible g6-defenses.

White's main systems: the Austrian Attack (f4 and Nf3 with kingside space), the Classical with Be2 and Bg5, and the notorious 150 Attack (Be3, Qd2, h4-h5 plans aimed at the g6-bishop's king). Black's counterchances are concentrated: the ...e5 strike, ...c5 counterplay and queenside expansion with ...b5 and ...c6. The Pirc concedes space for dynamic piece play — a fighting choice for those who trust their middlegame feel over memorized equality.

Play through the moves on the board above, explore the variations tree below — click any move of any branch — then test yourself against the engine from the position you picked.

Position after 2 half-moves — White to move.
Material is balanced.
Family “Pirc Defense” contains 28 recorded variation(s) here.

Variations tree of the Pirc Defense family

Click any move to jump to that position; switch branches at any point with the alternative moves. Test your knowledge plays the shown position against the engine.

Variations of this family

Name	ECO	Main line length
Pirc Defense	B00	3 plies
Pirc Defense	B00	4 plies
Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit	B00	5 plies
Pirc Defense	B07	6 plies
Pirc Defense: 150 Attack	B07	9 plies
Pirc Defense: 150 Attack, Inner Doll Defense	B07	10 plies
Pirc Defense: 150 Attack, Sveshnikov-Jansa Attack	B07	9 plies
Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack	B07	9 plies
Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation	B07	7 plies
Pirc Defense: Chinese Variation	B07	9 plies
Pirc Defense: Kholmov System	B07	7 plies
Pirc Defense: Sveshnikov System	B07	7 plies