Pirc Defense: Classical Variation
Chess opening · ECO B08 · 7 half-moves
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3
The Pirc Defense: Classical Variation is reached after 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3. It is Black's move in the position shown.
It branches from the Pirc Defense with 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3.
How often it is played
The Pirc Defense: Classical Variation and its variations appeared in 0.30% of games — 8,902 of 3,000,000 rated games sampled from Lichess in September 2026. That makes it number 138 of the openings listed here.
Results
White won 50%, 4.0% were drawn and Black won 46%. These are games between players of every strength and time control, so they say how the opening does in practice rather than how sound it is.
What the engine thinks
Stockfish, at depth 18, evaluates the position at +0.61 — a clear edge for White. Positive numbers favour White; see reading the evaluation bar.
Similar openings
The most-played alternatives — what else could have been chosen around the move where this opening begins.
| Opening | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| King's Knight Opening | 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 | 15% |
| Sicilian Defense | 1. e4 c5 | 9.6% |
| French Defense | 1. e4 e6 | 6.4% |
Main continuations
| Variation | Moves | Share of games |
|---|---|---|
| Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Schlechter Variation | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. h3 | 0.02% |
| Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System | 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 | 0.02% |
Check your own games
Paste a game, or share one straight from lichess or chess.com, and Chess Analyzer names the opening, marks where the game left known theory and grades every move after it.
Open the analyzer