Pirc Defense: all variations and ECO codes
28 named lines across 4 ECO codes (B00–B09). Source: the CC0-licensed lichess.org opening database.
The idea
Black delays the central challenge and fianchettoes the king’s bishop, letting White build a big pawn center on purpose before striking back with c5 or e5 later. It’s the same hypermodern bet the King’s Indian makes against 1.d4, adapted here to meet 1.e4 instead.
The main line
How the main line scores at your rating
Real Lichess win rates for 1.e4 d6, playing as black: the family’s other variations are not separately tracked for win rate yet, main line only.
Scroll to see more →
| Rating band | Games | White / draw / Black | Score for black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1400-1600 | 3,476 | 50.1% / 3.7% / 46.1% | 48.0% |
| 1600-1800 | 3,996 | 49.0% / 4.3% / 46.7% | 48.9% |
| 1800-2000 | 3,973 | 47.6% / 4.2% / 48.2% | 50.3% |
| 2000+ | 3,359 | 49.0% / 5.0% / 46.0% | 48.5% |
All 28 named variations
Every named line in the Pirc Defense family, from the CC0-licensed ECO classification: not separately tracked for win rate, but every ECO code and move sequence is real, sourced data.
- B00Pirc Defense (main line)1.e4 d6
- B00Pirc Defense (main line)1.e4 d6 2.d4
- B00Pirc Defense (main line)1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6
- B07Pirc Defense (main line)1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6
- B00Roscher Gambit1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nf3
- B07150 Attack1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.Qd2
- B07Inner Doll Defense1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.Qd2 Bg4
- B07Sveshnikov-Jansa Attack1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.h3
- B07Bayonet Attack1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be2 Bg7 5.h4
- B07Byrne Variation1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bg5
- B07Chinese Variation1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be2 Bg7 5.g4
- B07Kholmov System1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bc4
- B07Sveshnikov System1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.g3
- B08Classical Variation1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3B08Classical Variation1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7
- B08Quiet System1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2
- B08Chigorin Line1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 O-O 6.O-O Nc6
- B08Czech Defense1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 O-O 6.O-O c6
- B08Parma Defense1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 O-O 6.O-O Bg4
- B08Schlechter Variation1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h3
- B09Austrian Attack1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4B09Austrian Attack1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O
- B09Dragon Formation1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 c5
- B09Kurajica Variation1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be3
- B09Ljubojevic Variation1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Bc4
- B09Unzicker Attack1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.e5
- B09Bronstein Variation1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.e5 Nfd7 7.h4
- B09Weiss Variation1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3
Browse more
ECO Volume B: Semi-Open Games (other than the French Defense) → · All ECO families → · Search and play every line in the interactive explorer →
Related
Alekhine Defense
56 named lines, ECO B02
Caro-Kann Defense
110 named lines, ECO B10
King’s Pawn Game
38 named lines, ECO B00