The Pirc Defense is 1. 2. 3. : your knight attacks e4, White spends a move guarding it, and only then does your bishop go to g7. On Lichess (September 2026, N = 587,205 public games at 900–1700), you score 48.8% after 1. , a position that comes up in 1.9% of games. Strong online players most often continue with 4., the Austrian Attack.
Lichess games from September 2026 (30,577,162 rated 900 to 1700) and 31,791 over-the-board games rated 2300+ from the last 12 months. Data updated: October 14, 2026.
23 named lines in this family; 1 with their own page.
The opening's share in each Lichess rating band.
After 1. , 42 of every 100 opponents at your level play 2., 32 play 2. and 9 play 2.. Strong online players pick 2. 79 times in 100, and over the board 99. Next, is the public's reply in 53 of every 100 games and strong online players' in 70, and the public guards e4 with 3. in 66 of every 100. After , the Austrian Attack, 4., is the top pick of strong online players at 21 in 100, but at your level it turns up in just 8 of every 100 games. Expect 4., in 35, or 4., in 19. Over the board, strong players actually prefer to : 53 in 100 against 41.
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41.5% | 51.7% | 79.1% | 98.8% | |
| 31.7% | 51.6% | 8.1% | no data | |
| 9.3% | 52.2% | 0.8% | no data | |
| 6.1% | 51.6% | 6.8% | 1.2% | |
| 3.6% | 53.6% | 1.5% | no data | |
| 2.4% | 51.3% | 1.4% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53.1% | 50.7% | 70.4% | 85.5% | |
| 10.6% | 50.7% | 14.3% | 11.6% | |
| 8.5% | 52.8% | no data | no data | |
| 7.4% | 54.1% | 4.6% | 2.9% | |
| 6.4% | 51.3% | 5.5% | no data | |
| 3.7% | 50.8% | 2.8% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.7% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65.9% | 52.6% | 82.4% | 87.4% | |
| 12.5% | 50.6% | 11.3% | 9.2% | |
| 8.5% | 39.9% | no data | no data | |
| 4.1% | 48.8% | 4.3% | 3.4% | |
| 3.0% | 48.6% | 0.2% | no data | |
| 1.2% | 45.2% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 1.5% | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.2% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65.5% | 52.7% | 44.3% | 40.7% | |
| 13.9% | 50.9% | 12.7% | 4.4% | |
| 5.9% | 51.6% | 9.5% | 1.5% | |
| 5.3% | 53.0% | 31.5% | 53.3% | |
| 2.6% | 54.6% | 0.9% | no data | |
| 2.5% | 55.4% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 0.5% | no data |
| Move | Lichess 900–1700 | White's score | Online, 2200+ | Over the board, 2300+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35.0% | 52.2% | 17.0% | 35.2% | |
| 19.0% | 54.7% | 13.9% | 6.9% | |
| 7.9% | 55.3% | 21.2% | 24.1% | |
| 6.2% | 51.8% | 3.7% | no data | |
| 6.0% | 50.9% | no data | no data | |
| 5.9% | 50.3% | no data | no data | |
| no data | no data | 19.1% | 30.3% | |
| no data | no data | 9.0% | no data | |
| no data | no data | no data | 3.4% |
The Pirc's move order has a reason behind it. comes before the fianchetto because the knight hits e4 at a moment when no White piece defends that pawn. White has to spend the move holding it, usually with 3.. Only then do you play and bring the bishop to g7. That is the plan of 62 of every 100 strong online players and 73 of every 100 over the board; around 18 of every 100 strong online players develop that bishop to e7 instead.
With 4. White puts pawns on d4, e4 and f4 and gets ready to push to e5 and kick your f6 knight. Two pawns already back that push, and only your d6 pawn holds it up. Your does two jobs. It clears f8, which you need in order to castle. And it tucks the bishop behind the knight: while the knight sits on f6 the bishop sees only that square, but as soon as the knight moves, the diagonal opens all the way to e5 and d4. 97 of every 100 strong players choose it.
With 5. White adds a third defender of e5 and a second defender of d4, which until then only the queen covered. You answer : your king leaves the center before the e5 push can open lines, and settles behind the g7 bishop and the pawns on f7, g6 and h7. 72 of every 100 strong players go this way.
At your level that line is rare. After , only 8 of every 100 opponents play 4.. Far more often you will see 4., the Classical Variation, or 4., the Byrne Variation, where the bishop attacks your f6 knight. The plan stays the same: and castle short. Watch for two earlier cases as well. If White answers with 3., e4 is still undefended and wins the pawn. And if White plays 3., hitting your knight, you score 60 of every 100 at your level.
Plan played in 73% of the 330 over-the-board games rated 2300+ with this structure.
Online, 2200+: 61.6% of 30,936. Over the board, 2300+: 73.0% of 330; the alternative, : 17.5% and 9.7%; the alternative, : 2.9% and 1.5%; the alternative, : 1.0% and 0.3%; the alternative, : 2.0% and 3.0%.
| Move | Strong games | Chosen by |
|---|---|---|
| 38,468 | 79.4% | |
| 34,600 | 70.6% | |
| 24,423 | 82.4% | |
| 22,113 | 44.3% | |
| 10,936 | 21.3% | |
| 2,321 | 96.9% | |
| 2,737 | 79.9% | |
| 2,171 | 71.5% |
After 2., pins the knight to the queen, but it brings the bishop out before the g8 knight, and nothing of yours hits e4. White takes the center: 3. 4. 5.. 5 of every 100 play it. At your level it hardly matters: you score 47 of every 100, the same as with .
5 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.6 pawns of advantage. It scores 47.2%; scores 46.6%.
After 3., no White piece defends e4, and passes up , which wins a pawn. White holds it with 4., and after 5. 6. you have an ordinary Pirc without that extra pawn. 36 of every 100 play it. At your level the cost is small: you score 50 of every 100; with , 52.
36 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.2 pawns of advantage. It scores 50.1%; scores 52.2%.
After 3., attacks the queen on d1, but 4. blocks the diagonal and hits the bishop, which retreats with . White follows with 5. 6., gaining kingside space. About 1 in 40 play it. At your level it rarely gets punished: you score 45 of every 100; with , which hits d4, 47.
3 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 0.8 pawns of advantage. It scores 44.6%; scores 47.0%.
After 2. 3., takes the square your g8 knight wants, leaving it only e7 or h6. After 4. 5. 6. , your g7 bishop runs straight into your own f6 pawn. About 1 in 40 play it. This one does get punished: you score 39 of every 100; with , 46.
3 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.1 pawns of advantage. It scores 38.6%; scores 46.4%.
After 3., e4 is undefended and lets it go. Then comes 4. 5.: the queen holds e4, and after 6. the g4 pawn drives your bishop back once more. 5 of every 100 play it. At your level it almost never gets punished: you score 52 of every 100, the same as with .
5 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 1.7 pawns of advantage. It scores 51.5%; scores 52.2%.
After 3., blocks your c8 bishop and does nothing about e4. Then 4. 5. kicks your knight again, and after 6. you are left with doubled pawns on the e-file. 3 or 4 of every 100 play it. At your level it rarely gets punished: you score 51 of every 100; with , 52.
4 in 100 play it in this position. It gives away 2.1 pawns of advantage. It scores 50.6%; scores 52.2%.
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 272,640 | ||
| 75,466 | ||
| Not castled | 64,184 | |
| Not castled | 62,748 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 50,960 |
| 22,006 |
| White | Black | Games |
|---|---|---|
| 178 | ||
| 56 | ||
| Not castled | 30 | |
| Not castled | Not castled | 21 |
| Not castled | 21 | |
| Not castled | 11 |
1. 2. 3. 4. · 92,669 amateur games · 89 over the board
With 4. White develops calmly: 92,669 public games, the most common variation.
1. 2. 3. 4. · 18,516 amateur games · 13 over the board
The bishop on 4. attacks your f6 knight; you score 45 of every 100.
1. 2. 3. 4. · 11,357 amateur games · 46 over the board
4. prepares the e5 push against your knight; you score 45 of every 100.
1. 2. 3. · 10,960 amateur games
With 3. White leaves e4 undefended, and wins the pawn.
1. 2. 3. 4. · 7,370 amateur games
With 4. the bishop eyes f7, defended only by your king: 7,370 public games.
1. 2. 3. 4. · B07
511 amateur games · White's score: 52.2%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · B07
206 amateur games · White's score: 52.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · B07
96 amateur games · White's score: 48.4%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · B07
39 amateur games · White's score: 59.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · B07
20 amateur games · White's score: 50.0%
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. · B07
1 amateur game · White's score: 0.0%
It is the reply to 1., followed by and when White plays 2. and 3.. The knight attacks e4 so White has to defend it, the bishop settles on g7 behind the knight, and then you castle short. It appears in 587,205 public Lichess games at 900–1700.
The strong players' line is 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. . Make White defend e4 first, then bring the bishop to g7 and castle before the e5 push opens the center. If your opponent leaves e4 undefended, take it with the knight.
At your level it holds up. In 587,205 public games you score 49 of every 100, and that barely moves from 900 to 1700: 50 at 900–1100, 49 at 1500–1700. Strong players do worse with it: 47 online above 2200 and 41 over the board above 2300. With best play, White's edge after 2. is 0.48 of a pawn.