- ECO code
- B07
- Moves
- 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6
- Family
- Pirc Defense
- To move
- White
- Master games
- 440
- Average game length
- 41 moves
- Years covered
- 1892–2026
Pirc Defense is the opening filed under ECO code B07, reached after 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6. It belongs to the Pirc Defense family; in the resulting position it is White to move.
Katuranga's collection of 138,070 master games contains 440 games on this line — the 234th most played opening in the collection. The oldest game on this line is from 1892 and the most recent from 2026. The busiest decade in this collection is the 2010s, with 126 games. An average game here lasts 41 moves.
White wins 41% of those games, 30% end in a draw, and Black wins 29%. That is close to the collection average (White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28%). Draws are less common here than usual, by 5 points.
From this position the most popular move is 4.f4, played in 133 games, followed by 4.Nf3 (123) and 4.Be3 (87). After 4.f4 White scores 40% and Black 32%.
The name that appears most often on the White side of this line is Karpov, Anatoly (22 games); on the Black side, Mamedyarov,S (43).
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Results in master games
- White 41% (182)
- Draws 30% (131)
- Black 29% (127)
Most played continuations
| Move | Games | White / draws / Black | Leads into |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.f4 | 133 | 40/28/32 | — |
| 4.Nf3 | 123 | 38/40/22 | — |
| 4.Be3 | 87 | 46/21/33 | — |
| 4.g3 | 27 | 37/44/19 | — |
| 4.Bg5 | 26 | 66/15/19 | — |
| 4.f3 | 16 | 37/25/38 | — |
| 4.h3 | 8 | 13/25/62 | — |
| 4.Be2 | 6 | 34/33/33 | — |
How the position is reached
- King's Pawn Game · 1.e4 · 62,859 games
- Pirc Defense · 1.e4 d6 · 1,186 games
- Pirc Defense · 1.e4 d6 2.d4 · 1,121 games
- Pirc Defense · 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 · 864 games
Played most often by
As White
- Karpov, Anatoly 22
- Karjakin,Sergey 20
- Nepomniachtchi,I 15
As Black
- Mamedyarov,S 43
- Grischuk,A 21
- Smyslov, Vassily 20
Games per decade
- 1890s 1
- 1920s 1
- 1940s 3
- 1950s 10
- 1960s 26
- 1970s 34
- 1980s 44
- 1990s 55
- 2000s 72
- 2010s 126
- 2020s 68
Master games on this line
| White | Black | Result | Year | Events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhigalko,S | Erigaisi,Arjun | 0-1 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 26th Feb 2026 |
| Apoorv Kamble | Erigaisi,Arjun | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 21st Apr 2026 |
| Bortnyk,Olexandr | Erigaisi,Arjun | 1-0 | 2026 | 1st 3-0 Thu 21st May 2026 |
| Zhu,Jiner | Erigaisi,Arjun | 0-1 | 2026 | 31st Sigeman & Co 2026 |
| Nosach,Roman Al | Erigaisi,Arjun | 0-1 | 2026 | Titled Tue 7th Apr 2026 |
| Murzin,Volodar | Erigaisi,Arjun | 1-0 | 2026 | Titled Tue 28th Apr 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Pirc Defense?
It is the opening with ECO code B07, reached after 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6. It belongs to the Pirc Defense family.
Is the Pirc Defense good for White or for Black?
In 440 master games on this line White wins 41%, 30% are drawn and Black wins 29%. The collection average is White 37%, draws 35%, Black 28% — so this line is a slightly better bargain for Black than the field as a whole.
What is the main continuation of the Pirc Defense?
4.f4 — played in 133 of the master games on this line.
Which grandmasters play the Pirc Defense?
On the White side Karpov, Anatoly (22), Karjakin,Sergey (20), Nepomniachtchi,I (15); on the Black side Mamedyarov,S (43), Grischuk,A (21), Smyslov, Vassily (20).
Every number on this page is computed from Katuranga's master game collection; names and ECO codes follow the lichess opening book (CC0).
Try this line on the board
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