Pirc Defence
MICOS Opening Group B04.PI – Pirc Defence is characterised by Black responding to 1.e4 with …d6 and …Nf6, followed by a kingside fianchetto with …g6 and …Bg7. A characteristic move order is 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6. Named after Slovenian Grandmaster Vasja Pirc, the defence follows hypermodern principles: Black allows White to establish a strong pawn centre and then seeks to challenge and undermine it from the flanks.
The Pirc gained wider recognition after World War II and was played by Bobby Fischer against Boris Spassky in game 17 of their 1972 World Championship match in Reykjavík, which ended in a draw. Use the searchable table below to find openings by opening name, chess notation or MICOS code and train individual openings interactively with MICOS CAP.
Search by Opening Name, Chess Notation or MICOS Code. MICOS classifies each opening by its exact move order.
| Opening Name | Chess Notation | MICOS Code | MICOS CAP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pirc Defence | 1.e4 d6 | B04.001.PI | |
| Maroczy Defence | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 e5 | B04.002.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Philidor Gambit | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 e5 3.dxe5 Bd7 | B04.003.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Rat Defence: Balogh Defence | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f5 | B04.004.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Rat Defence: Antal Defence | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nd7 | B04.005.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Pirc Defence: 2…Nf6 | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 | B04.006.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Lion Defence: Lion's Jaw Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.f3 | B04.007.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Pirc Defence: 3.Nc3 | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 | B04.008.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Czech Defence | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6 | B04.009.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Pirc Defence: 3…g6 | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 | B04.010.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Kholmov System | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bc4 | B04.011.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Classical Defence | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be2 | B04.012.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Chinese Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be2 Bg7 5.g4 | B04.013.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Bayonet Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be2 Bg7 5.h4 | B04.014.PI | Explore ▶ |
| 150 Attack: Jansa Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.h3 | B04.015.PI | Explore ▶ |
| 150 Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.Qd2 | B04.016.PI | Explore ▶ |
| 150 Attack: Inner Doll Defence | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.Qd2 Bg4 | B04.017.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Byrne Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bg5 | B04.018.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Austrian Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 | B04.019.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Austrian Attack: Ljubojevic | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Bc4 | B04.020.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Austrian Attack: 5…0-0 | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 | B04.021.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Austrian Attack: Weiss Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bd3 | B04.022.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Austrian Attack: Kurajica Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be3 | B04.023.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Austrian Attack: Unzicker Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.e5 | B04.024.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Austrian Attack: Unzicker-Bronstein Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.e5 Nfd7 7.h4 | B04.025.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Austrian Attack: Dragon Formation | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 c5 | B04.026.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Sveshnikov System | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.g3 | B04.027.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Classical Quiet System: Two Knights System | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 | B04.028.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Classical Quiet System: Two Knights System: 4…Bg7 | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 | B04.029.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Classical Quiet System: Be2 System | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 | B04.030.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Classical Quiet System: Parma Defence | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 Bg4 | B04.031.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Classical Quiet System: Czech Defence | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 c6 | B04.032.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Classical Quiet System: Chigorin Defence | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 Nc6 | B04.033.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Classical Quiet System: Schlechter Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h3 | B04.034.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Lion Defence: Anti-Philidor Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.f4 | B04.035.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Lion Defence: Anti-Philidor Attack - Lion's Cave Defence | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.f4 e5 | B04.036.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Lion Defence: Anti-Philidor Attack - Lion's Cave Defence - Lion's Claw Gambit | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.f4 e5 5.Nf3 exd4 6.Qxd4 c6 7.Bc4 d5 | B04.037.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Lion Defence: Bayonet Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.g4 | B04.038.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Roscher Gambit | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nf3 | B04.039.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Rat Defence: Harmonist Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.f4 | B04.040.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Rat Defence: Fuller Gambit | 1.e4 d6 2.f4 d5 3.exd5 Nf6 | B04.041.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Rat Defence: Spike Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.g4 | B04.042.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Rat Defence: Petruccioli Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.h4 | B04.043.PI | Explore ▶ |
| Sub Groups | Chess Notation | MICOS CAP |
|---|---|---|
| Pirc Defence (B04.PI) | ||
| 54. Austrian Attack | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 | B04.019.PI 🖥️ |
| 55. Classical Quiet System | 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 | B04.028.PI 🖥️ |
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