8765432abcdefgh1

Pirc Defense

Classical Variation, Quiet System, Chigorin Line

B08positionalsolid

  1. 1.e4d6
  2. 2.d4Nf6
  3. 3.Nc3g6
  4. 4.Nf3Bg7
  5. 5.Be2O-O
  6. 6.O-ONc6
1,352 games48%47%

Variation of the Quiet System Pirc in which Black answers 6. O-O with 6...Nc6, hitting d4 at once and preparing ...e5; 7. d5 is White's most common reply.

Train it in Theoria

About the Chigorin Line

With 6...Nc6, Black develops the queen's knight in front of the c-pawn and adds a second attacker on d4, alongside the fianchettoed bishop, with ...e5 as the intended follow-up. The most frequent answer, 7. d5, gains space and forces the knight to move again; 7. h3 instead keeps the center fixed and prevents ...Bg4, while 7. Be3 reinforces d4. Practical results are close to even, and engines give White a slight edge, with 7. d5 their top choice.

Popular continuations