Pirc Defense: Chinese Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
59,833 games: White 55.9% / Draw 4.1% / Black 40.0%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 26,55127K | ||
| 7,9547,954 | ||
| 6,2856,285 | ||
| 4,4294,429 | ||
| 4,2844,284 | ||
| 3,4093,409 | ||
| 1,7701,770 | ||
| 1,7111,711 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 8, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.32 White is slightly better
Best play: 5... d5 6. e5 Ne4 7. f3 Nxc3 8. bxc3 c5 9. h4 Nc6 10. h5
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Pirc Defense: Chinese Variation (ECO B07, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Pirc Defense, reached after 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. g4 (5 moves).
In 59,833 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 55.9%, Black 40.0% and 4.1% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 5…O-O, in 44% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Pirc Defense: Chinese Variation
5…h6 scores best for Black: 45.9%, with Black winning 43.9% and White 52.2% of 4,429 games. The most played answer, 5…O-O, scores lowest: 39.9% in 27K games. Stockfish's first choice is 5…d5.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Pirc Defense: Chinese Variation (B07)”. Lichess data as of 8 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/pirc-defense-chinese-variation