Pirc Defence

The Pirc Defence begins after the moves 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6. It is a sound hypermodern defence that lures White into a big centre and then turns it into a target, for players who want an unbalanced fight from move one.

  • For black
  • Hypermodern
  • Dynamic

Written by:

Eirik Aarnes

The Essentials

Early moves:
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6
Colour:
Played by Black
Style:
Hypermodern, dynamic
Difficulty to learn:
Moderate to high
Named after:
Vasja Pirc, the Slovenian grandmaster who played it often from the late 1940s.
Trivia:
The 150 Attack is named after a British grading of 150, about 1825 Elo, the level its inventors reckoned was enough to play it well.
Variations:
Austrian Attack. Classical Variation. 150 Attack. Byrne Variation. Sveshnikov System. Kholmov System.
Good for:

Best suited for rating

1000-2200

30015002800

Known for this opening

Jan Timman

Jan Timman

Zurab Azmaiparashvili

Zurab Azmaiparashvili

Anatoly Karpov

Anatoly Karpov

Efim Geller

Efim Geller

Why play the Pirc Defence?

Because a big centre is also a big target.

After 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6, the bishop heads for g7, and Black gets ready to castle while White is allowed to take control over the middle of the board.

White gets a big centre, and Black gets a bishop on the long diagonal, preparing to contest the dark squares with ...c5 and ...e5 when the time is right.

White chooses the battlefield, but Black gets clear targets. The Austrian Attack with 4. f4 goes straight for e5, the Classical with 4. Nf3 is quieter, and Be3 with Qd2 aims to swap off Black's best bishop.

The main catch of the Pirc is that White is allowed a space advantage. Black has to know several setups, and a break played a move too early can simply lose material.

In return, the game is full of imbalances, and one careless advance by White turns the proud centre into a target. If you like to strike back rather than lead, give the Pirc a try.

Try the Pirc Defence yourself!

Play A Game

Why the Pirc Defence is good with the:

Choose the battlefield - White decides the structure, from the sharp Austrian Attack to a quiet Classical setup.

Space advantage - The pawns on e4 and d4 give White more room to manoeuvre and a firm grip on the centre.

Attacking chances - White can often build a long-term attack against Black's king, with Bh6 to trade the g7-bishop and h4-h5 to open lines.

Suited for - Ambitious players who enjoy space and like to choose the kind of game they get.

Preparing chessboard...

Strategy

Typical plans, pawn breaks, and key squares.

Preparing diagram...

The centre as a target

The g7-bishop and ...Qa5 eye c3 and b2, while ...c5, ...e5, and e4-e5 fight over d4 and e5.

Preparing diagram...

White's pawn breaks

White aims for e4-e5, but if Black holds e5, d4-d5 and f4-f5 become more common.

Preparing diagram...

Black's pawn breaks

Black strikes at d4 and e5 with ...c5 and, once prepared, ...e5.

Preparing diagram...

Key squares

e5, d4, and b2 sit on the g7-bishop's long diagonal, making play heavily revolve around the dark squares.

Traps and tactics

Three traps every Pirc Defence player should know.

Preparing trap board...

Themes

Race to the king

White's attack with Bh6 and h4-h5 often comes first, so Black's counterplay has to land before the kingside opens.

Dark square control

Black contests d4 and e5 with the g7-bishop, which is why White aims to trade it with Bh6.

A centre under fire

White's centre brings space and attacking chances, and if it advances too far, it becomes exactly what the Pirc is built to hit.

Timing the break

Played too early, ...e5 can simply lose material, and played too late, White's centre rolls forward unopposed.

History

From irregular beginnings to world championship battles and modern counterplay.

  1. 1800s

    Irregular beginnings

    The defence is occasionally played in the 19th century, but it is treated as an irregular opening rather than a serious one.

  2. 1896

    An early Austrian

    Siegbert Tarrasch uses the Austrian Attack against Rudolf Charousek and wins in 17 moves.

  3. 1945-1970

    Respectable at last

    After the Second World War the defence gains followers, Vasja Pirc among them, and by the 1960s it is regarded as playable, largely thanks to Duncan Suttles.

  4. 1972

    Reykjavik

    Bobby Fischer answers Spassky's 1. e4 with the Pirc in game 17 of their world championship match, the only time in his career. The game is drawn.

  5. 2020s

    Still in the fight

    Engines rate the main lines as level, and it is played by the likes of Magnus Carlsen, Wesley So, and Arjun Erigaisi.

Model Games

Games that defined the Pirc Defence.

Preparing game board...

FAQ

The Pirc Defence begins after the moves 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6. Black lets White build a pawn centre, puts the bishop on g7, and then attacks the centre with ...c5 or ...e5.

Yes, but with a warning. The ideas are easy to grasp, but Black has to know an answer to several White systems, and a break played too early can lose material fast.

Yes. Against White's main systems the game stays level with correct play, and the Byrne Variation keeps only a small edge. Garry Kasparov still judged it hardly worth using at the very highest level.

Black does not occupy the centre with pawns at once. The pieces come out first, and the pawn breaks ...c5 and ...e5 then strike at White's centre from the side.

It begins with 4. f4, adding the f-pawn to White's centre. White usually aims for e4-e5, while Black castles and counters with ...c5 or, once it is prepared, ...e5.

Both put the bishop on g7 and let White build a centre. In the Pirc, Black plays ...Nf6 early, while the Modern Defence delays the knight or leaves it at home.

There is no single best line. The Austrian Attack with 4. f4 builds the broadest centre, the Classical Variation with 4. Nf3 is calmer, and Be3 with Qd2 prepares Bh6 to exchange Black's g7-bishop.

Azmaiparashvili, Timman, Chernin, Mamedyarov, Nunn, Suttles, Seirawan, Speelman, Ivanchuk, Carlsen, So, and Erigaisi have all used it.

Choose the Modern Defence if you want to delay ...Nf6 and keep more setups open. Choose the Pirc if you want the knight on f6 at once, hitting e4 from move two.

Pirc Defence summarized

Colour:
Played by Black
Style:
Hypermodern, dynamic
Difficulty to learn:
Moderate to high
Variations:
Austrian Attack. Classical Variation. 150 Attack. Byrne Variation. Sveshnikov System. Kholmov System.
Good for:
BlitzRapidClassical

Ready to try the Pirc Defence?

Practice the main lines against an AI tuned to your level. Learn when to strike at White's centre, and which break the position is ready for.

Play a game

Looking for a different opening?