Chess opening · ECO B00
Pirc Defense
The Pirc Defense starts 1. e4 d6. It ranks #24 of the 174 openings on this site by how often rated players on Lichess reach it.
Move by move
- 1. e4White pushes the e-pawn two squares to e4, staking a claim in the center.
- 1... d6Black advances the d-pawn to d6.
What players choose next, by rating
The three most common White moves from this position in rated Lichess games, grouped by the rating of the player making the move. d4 is the most popular next move in every rating band.
| Rating | Most common | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | d4 40% | Nf3 24% | Bc4 12% |
| 1200–1399 | d4 38% | Nf3 26% | Bc4 13% |
| 1400–1599 | d4 42% | Nf3 28% | Bc4 11% |
| 1600–1799 | d4 49% | Nf3 25% | Bc4 9% |
| 1800–1999 | d4 62% | Nf3 19% | f4 8% |
| 2000 and up | d4 81% | Nf3 11% | Nc3 3% |
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