Pirc Defense

Play as BlackDefence

Let White build a big center, then strike back at it with pieces from the flank.

The main line, move by move

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. a4 Nbd7 8. Re1 e5 9. Bf1 Re8

1. 1. e4 — Claim the center and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... d6 — Hold back and invite White to build a big center.
3. 2. d4 — White builds the center.
4. 2... Nf6 — Attack the e4 pawn.
5. 3. Nc3 — Defend e4 and develop.
6. 3... g6 — Prepare to fianchetto the bishop and hit the center from the flank.
7. 4. Nf3 — Develop the knight toward the center.
8. 4... Bg7 — Fianchetto: the bishop will pressure the center from afar.
9. 5. Be2 — Develop and get ready to castle.
10. 5... O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
11. 6. O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
12. 6... c6 — Prepare ...Nbd7 and ...e5.
13. 7. a4 — Stop ...b5 and gain space.
14. 7... Nbd7 — Develop the knight and prepare ...e5.
15. 8. Re1 — Support the e4 pawn.
16. 8... e5 — Strike in the center.
17. 9. Bf1 — Keep the bishop safe and flexible.
18. 9... Re8 — Put the rook behind the e-pawn.

Related openings

• Sicilian Defense (Najdorf)
• French Defense
• Caro-Kann Defense
• Scandinavian Defense
• King's Indian Defense

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