Pirc Defence
B07–B09Black1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6
B07–B09 · 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6
The idea
A flexible, hypermodern defence. Black lets White build a big pawn centre, fianchettoes the dark-squared bishop on g7, and castles quickly behind it. Rather than meet the centre head-on, Black waits and then strikes back with ...e5 or ...c5, counterattacking the moment the position invites it.
Your plan (Black)
Fianchetto the bishop to g7, castle, and stay compact, then hit the centre with a well-timed ...e5 or ...c5 to free the position and turn White's space into overextension.
Heading into the middlegame
The Pirc is a coiled spring: fianchetto ...Bg7, castle, stay compact, and let White overextend — then uncoil with ...e5 or ...c5 to hit the centre. Route your pieces behind the break (...Nc6 or ...Nbd7, ...Re8, sometimes ...Nf6–d7 to free the g7-bishop and the f-pawn). Against the Austrian Attack (f4) don't sit still — White wants f5 and a kingside storm, so strike back in the centre at once with ...c5 or ...e5 and trade off the attackers before the pawn avalanche arrives.
Lines
0/2 masteredWhite develops naturally with Nf3 and Be2; you fianchetto to g7, castle, and stay compact, waiting to uncoil with a well-timed ...e5 or ...c5.
White grabs maximum space with f4 and eyes a kingside storm; you counter in the centre at once with ...Nc6 and ...e5 before the avalanche arrives.