Caissa Codex
B08

Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense

Chess diagram: Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense after 6…c6

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

117,924 games: White 49.4% / Draw 6.5% / Black 44.1%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
36,35436K
25,59726K
17,81918K
10,39410K
9,7259,725
8,0458,045
4,5024,502
1,0701,070

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

Engine evaluation

+0.59 White is slightly better

Best play: 7. a4 Nbd7 8. h3 Qc7 9. Be3 e5 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Qd2 Nxf3+

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, Czech Defense (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 c6 (6 moves).

In 117,924 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.4%, Black 44.1% and 6.5% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. h3, in 31% 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, Czech Defense

7. a4 scores best for White: 56.1%, with White winning 52.5% and Black 40.2% of 26K games. The most played, 7. h3, scores 53.7% in 36K games, and 7. e5 scores lowest: 48.6%. Stockfish's first choice is also 7. a4.

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 c6, the position after Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System also goes on to:

Cite this page

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

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