Opening name: Pirc Defence
Opening line: 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6
Lichess Board
Wikibooks Page
Winning percentages
White: 14958 (38.07%)
Black: 9937 (25.29%)
Draws: 14396 (36.64%)
Pirc Defence
This is the main line of the Pirc Defence. Black immediately challenges the White center with his knight, which forces White to protect it. White has several options. Each one has its pluses and minuses. Black will, usually regardless of what White plays, play 3....g6 next and 4....Bg7. Fianchetto on the fourth move, however, is not always obligatory. In the systems with 4. Bd3 or 4.f3 Black often delays this thematic move, in order to discourage Bh6. Instead, he opts for queenside expansion with ...c6 and ...b5.
Most popular responses
3. Nc3 (Pirc Defence) White replies to Black's developing move with a developing move of his own, 3.Nc3. The move is noncommittal, as the knight was probably going to go to c3 anyway. Lichess Analysis - Wikibooks (22356567 games)
Engine Evaluation
Depth: 42
Score: +0.44
Best Move: Nc3
PV Line: 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Rg1 c6 6. g4 h6 7. Be3 Be7
Historical games for Pirc Defence
| Game | Result | Year |
| Carlsen, M. (2881) vs Caruana, F. (2791) | 1-0 | 2014 |
| Anand, V. (2774) vs Carlsen, M. (2861) | 1/2-1/2 | 2019 |
| Karjakin, Sergey (2767) vs Carlsen, Magnus (2868) | 1-0 | 2013 |
| Yu Yangyi (2752) vs Carlsen, M. (2882) | 1/2-1/2 | 2019 |
| Caruana, F. (2822) vs Mamedyarov, S. (2808) | 0-1 | 2018 |
| Caruana, F. (2816) vs Mamedyarov, S. (2808) | 0-1 | 2018 |
| Vachier Lagrave, M. (2779) vs Carlsen, M. (2842) | 0-1 | 2018 |
| Nakamura, Hi (2791) vs Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2819) | 1-0 | 2016 |
| Caruana, F. (2819) vs Nepomniachtchi, I. (2775) | 0-1 | 2019 |
| Caruana, F. (2819) vs Nepomniachtchi, I. (2775) | 0-1 | 2019 |