Pirc Defense
What is the Pirc Defense?
The Pirc Defense is a chess opening that begins with 1. e4 d6. It is classified under ECO B00–B09 and has 28 named variations. Black chooses it with the move d6.
Moves: 1. e4 d6
ECO: B00–B09
Chosen by: Black
Main variations
1. e4 d6 2. d4
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nf3
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bg5
All 28 variations
| ECO | Variation | Moves |
|---|---|---|
| B00 | Main line | 1. e4 d6 |
| B00 | Main line | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 |
| B00 | Main line | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 |
| B00 | Roscher Gambit | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nf3 |
| B07 | Main line | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 |
| B09 | Austrian Attack | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 |
| B07 | Byrne Variation | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bg5 |
| B08 | Classical Variation | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 |
| B07 | Kholmov System | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bc4 |
| B07 | Sveshnikov System | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 |
| B08 | Classical Variation | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 |
| B07 | 150 Attack | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 c6 5. Qd2 |
| B07 | 150 Attack, Sveshnikov-Jansa Attack | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 c6 5. h3 |
| B09 | Austrian Attack, Ljubojevic Variation | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Bc4 |
| B07 | Bayonet Attack | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. h4 |
| B07 | Chinese Variation | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. g4 |
| B08 | Classical Variation, Quiet System | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 |
| B08 | Classical Variation, Schlechter Variation | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. h3 |
| B07 | 150 Attack, Inner Doll Defense | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 c6 5. Qd2 Bg4 |
| B09 | Austrian Attack | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O |
| B09 | Austrian Attack, Dragon Formation | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 c5 |
| B09 | Austrian Attack, Kurajica Variation | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be3 |
| B09 | Austrian Attack, Unzicker Attack | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. e5 |
| B09 | Austrian Attack, Weiss Variation | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 |
| B08 | Classical Variation, Quiet System, Chigorin Line | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O Nc6 |
| B08 | Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O c6 |
| B08 | Classical Variation, Quiet System, Parma Defense | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O Bg4 |
| B09 | Austrian Attack, Unzicker Attack, Bronstein Variation | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. e5 Nfd7 7. h4 |
How to learn an opening
Learn the ideas before the moves: where the pieces go, which pawn breaks matter and what the typical middlegame plans are. Then play it, and after each game look up the point where you or your opponent left the known moves. MentoChess shows that point automatically for every game you import.
Opening lessons: Three golden opening rules · Scholar’s mate and how to stop it · Italian Game: plans, not just moves · Answering 1.d4: the Queen’s Gambit Declined · Meeting the Sicilian with 2.c3 · From moves to structures