Pirc Defense

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Overview

Pirc Defense is a named branch in the Semi-Open Games group of chess theory, classified under ECO B00.

The Semi-Open Games group covers semi-open games — replies to 1.e4 where Black declines the symmetrical 1…e5 in favour of an asymmetric pawn structure.

It begins with 2 plies and takes 1. e4 d6 to reach the canonical position.

It branches immediately from King's Pawn Game in the opening tree.

4 named variations grow from this line, including Pirc Defense, Rat Defense: Harmonist, Rat Defense: Petruccioli Attack, and others.

Counted recursively, this branch covers 40 sub-variations at all depths.

Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.

ECO code: B00
Group: Semi-Open Games (B)
Plies: 2
Parent: King's Pawn Game
Direct variations: 4
Total in subtree: 40

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

60,035,509 games · White 48.7% / Draw 4.6% / Black 46.6%

Moves	Games	W / D / B
d4	33,800,055
Nf3	13,902,268
f4	3,173,089
Bc4	3,170,825
Nc3	3,106,869
d3	1,012,927
c4	423,688
c3	245,764

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 00:49:56

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Variations (4)

Show all 40 sub-variations (full subtree)

Overview

Statistics from Lichess

Variations (4)

Related variations at the same level