Learn the Pirc Defense

B07-B09 · a repertoire for black · 8 chapters · 52 annotated lines

"Invite the storm, then counterattack"

The Pirc Defense (1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6) is the hypermodern counterpuncher's weapon: Black lets White build a big pawn center, then attacks it with the fianchettoed g7 bishop and the timed breaks ...e5 and ...c5. It's one repertoire against everything — the same first three moves meet every White setup, and each White system has one clear plan to remember. This course covers the Classical with the thematic ...Bg4 and ...e5 plan, the fearsome Austrian Attack, the 150 Attack that club players love, and every bishop lunge in between.

What's inside

• Chapter 1: The Classical System
  Lines: Classical Main Line: ...Bg4 and ...e5, The h3 System: ...c6 and ...e5
• Chapter 2: The Austrian Attack
  Lines: Austrian Main Line: ...Na6 and ...c5, The Premature 6.e5 Push
• Chapter 3: Attacking Systems & Sidelines
  Lines: The 150 Attack: ...c6 and ...b5!, 4.Bg5 — Hunt the Bishop, 4.Bg5: The Bxf6 Trade — Answer with ...e5!, Bc4 + Qe2: The 5...Nc6! Trick, Bc4 + Qe2 Declined: 6.Nf3, Pin and Punish, The Fianchetto System: Strike with ...e5, The Fianchetto with 6.Nf3: Switch to ...c5
• Chapter 4: The Classical System II
  Lines: 7.h3: Trade and Strike with ...Nd4, 8.d5: The ...Ne5 Outpost, 9.dxe5: Equalizing the Queenless Game, The h3 System: 9.d5 and ...f5, The Bd3 Classical: ...Nc6! Hits the Bishop
• Chapter 5: The Austrian Attack II
  Lines: 7.dxe5: The Endgame Refutation, 8.Nxd5: Keep Calm, Break with ...f6, The Be2 Austrian: ...c5 and ...b5!, The Be2 Austrian: 7.dxc5 and ...Qa5, 8.dxc5 in the Main Line: ...Nxc5!, 7.e5 Against ...Na6: ...Nd7 and ...c5, The Austrian Bc4: ...Nxe4! Anyway
• Chapter 6: The 150 Attack II
  Lines: The Nf3 150: ...b4 Wins a Pawn, The g4 Storm: ...h5 Stops Everything, The h4 Lunge: ...h5, Trade, Strike with ...e5, The Nf3 150: 7.e5 Runs into ...Ng4!, The Instant Bh6: Pin with ...Qa5!
• Chapter 7: Sidelines & Early Deviations
  Lines: Bc4 + Nf3: The ...Nxe4 Fork Trick, The Be2 + h4 Lunge: ...h5 and ...c5, 3.Bd3: Punish It with ...e5 and ...d5, 3.f3: The Comfortable Endgame, 2.Nc3 and the Grand Prix Setup, 4.e5: The Move-Four Push, Punished, 4.h4: The Caveman — ...h5 First, Then Punch
• Chapter 8: Bishop Setups after You Castle
  Lines: 5.Bd3 O-O 6.Be3: The ...Ng4 Hit, 5.h3 O-O 6.Be3: ...c6, ...b5 and ...b4!, 5.h3 O-O 6.Bc4: The Fork Trick Again, 5.h3 O-O 6.Bd3: ...Nc6 and the ...c6 Break

Free sample: the main line, move by move

• 1. e4 — 1.e4 — White takes the center.
• 1... d6 — The Pirc begins. Black doesn't fight for the center with pawns yet — instead, this modest move prepares ...Nf6 and ...g6, planning to attack White's center once it's built. Hypermodern chess: let them have it, then take it back.
• 2. d4 — White builds the big center — exactly what Black invited.
• 2... Nf6 — Develop with a hit on e4. Every Pirc game starts with this pressure — White must already make a decision about the e-pawn.
• 3. Nc3 — White defends e4 naturally.
• 3... g6 — The signature move: Black fianchettoes the king's bishop. From g7 it will rake the long diagonal, gnawing at d4 and e5 for the entire game. This bishop is the soul of the Pirc — treasure it.
• 4. Nf3 — The Classical System — White develops soundly and castles short. The most common setup at every level.
• 4... Bg7 — Complete the fianchetto. The bishop already eyes d4 — and every White center pawn will feel that pressure the moment the position opens.
• 5. Be2 — White develops the bishop modestly.
• 5... O-O — Castle. Black's kingside is a fortress: the g7 bishop and f6 knight are exactly the defenders the king wants.
• 6. O-O — White castles too.
• 6... Bg4 — The classical plan starts: pin the f3 knight. This 'problem bishop' — the one piece the Pirc structure hems in — gets a job before ...e5 closes its diagonal. Trade it for the knight that defends d4 and e5, and Black's breaks gain power.
• 7. Be3 — White reinforces d4 against the coming pressure.
• 7... Nc6 — Pile onto d4! Knight, bishop and soon the e-pawn all gang up on White's center. White must make a concession: push d5, defend again, or let the tension resolve in Black's favor.
• 8. Qd2 — White connects the heavy pieces and keeps d4 guarded.
• 8... e5 — The freeing break — the move Black's whole setup has been preparing. The center must now declare itself, and every resolution is fine for Black.
• 9. d5 — White grabs space and hits the c6 knight.
• 9... Ne7 — Reroute, don't retreat. From e7 the knight supports the thematic ...f5 break — the same kingside plan that powers the King's Indian Defense. The closed center means Black can attack on the wing without risk.
• 10. h3 — White puts the question to the bishop.
• 10... Bxf3 — Trade happily. This bishop had no future once the center closed — swapping it for the f3 knight (a key defender of White's kingside) is exactly what Black wants.
• 11. Bxf3 — White recaptures.
• 11... Nd7 — The second reroute: the knight clears the f-pawn's path and heads for c5 or f6-support duty. In closed centers, knights walk to their best squares — Black's play is on the kingside now.
• 12. Be2 — The bishop steps back, keeping an eye on both wings.
• 12... f5 — The break! With ...f5 Black seizes the initiative on the kingside: ...f4 may follow to cramp White, or the f-file opens for the rook. This is the full classical plan executed — bishop traded, knights rerouted, pawn storm rolling. Equal chances, and Black throws the punches.

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