Caissa Codex
B08

Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Chigorin Line

Chess diagram: Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Chigorin Line after 6…Nc6

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

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Statistics from Lichess

122,945 games: White 47.6% / Draw 6.7% / Black 45.8%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
39,36339K
33,35233K
17,96318K
11,31311K
6,2366,236
4,5494,549
3,8913,891
2,5052,505

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.54 White is slightly better

Best play: 7. d5 Ne5 8. Nxe5 dxe5 9. Bc4 Ne8 10. Qe2 Nd6 11. a4 f5

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Chigorin Line (ECO B08, Semi-Open Games) is a variation of the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, reached after 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O Nc6 (6 moves).

In 122,945 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 47.6%, Black 45.8% and 6.7% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. h3, in 32% 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: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Chigorin Line

7. d5 scores best for White: 54.3%, with White winning 51.0% and Black 42.4% of 33K games. The most played, 7. h3, scores 50.8% in 39K games, and 7. Re1 scores lowest: 48.7%. Stockfish's first choice is also 7. d5.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 5…O-O 6. O-O Nc6, the position after Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Chigorin Line (B08)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/pirc-defense-classical-variation-quiet-system-chigorin-line

https://chesscodex.org/openings/pirc-defense-classical-variation-quiet-system-chigorin-line