Openings Other answers to 1.e4

Pirc Defense: Austrian, 150 Attack, Lion and Czech by Rating

Black lets White build a big center and plans to attack it later with ...c5 or ...e5. The bishop on g7 is the key piece. It is flexible and avoids theory, but White gets free attacking chances.

For Black1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6Seen in 0.4% of rated games

Lichess rating

B07Pirc Defense

Games from this position (1600–1999): 23k

Played	Games	White · Draw · Black
27%	6,199	49%46%
18%	4,102	54%42%
15%	3,475	52%44%
9%	2,193	52%44%
8%	1,852	49%47%
6%	1,373	52%43%
5%	1,121	51%46%
4%	889	58%39%
3%	706	49%46%
2%	476	45%48%
2%	375	56%40%
0.7%	173	53%42%

Practice as White Practice as Black

Plans for both sides

White

The Austrian Attack (f4) grabs maximum space; the 150 Attack (Be3, Qd2, Bh6) aims at the king.
The Classical (Nf3, Be2, O-O) is calm and keeps a small edge.
Trade Black’s g7 bishop with Bh6 when you castle long.

Black

Strike the center with ...e5 or ...c5 once you have castled.
Against Be3 and Qd2, do not castle into an attack without ...c6 and ...b5 counterplay.
The Modern Defense (...g6 without ...Nf6) keeps even more options open and has its own guide.

Pirc Defense at each rating

How often the position after 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.

Rating	Games (Share of games)	White · Draw · Black	Top next move
<1200	6,7840.2%	50%46%	4.Nf341%
1200–1599	19k0.3%	50%46%	4.Nf334%
1600–1999	23k0.4%	51%44%	4.Nf327%
2000+	12k0.6%	51%44%	4.f420%
All	61k0.4%	51%45%	4.Nf329%

What usually comes next

The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.

Main variations

White builds e4, d4 and f4. Black answers ...O-O and ...c5 or ...Na6.
5,651 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 51%, 5% were drawn, Black won 44%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3
White plans Bh6, O-O-O and h4. Black plays ...b5 and delays castling.
114 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 55%, 4% were drawn, Black won 41%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.Qd2
Calm. Black plays ...c6, ...Bg4 or ...e5.
787 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 7% were drawn, Black won 43%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 O-O 6.O-O
Black keeps the g7 bishop at home and plays ...e5 with a Philidor-like structure (the “Lion’s Jaw”). Solid but cramped.
429 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 52%, 4% were drawn, Black won 45%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.f4 e5 5.Nf3
Black prepares ...e5 or ...b5 and keeps the queen active on a5. Less theory than the Pirc.
1,164 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 51%, 3% were drawn, Black won 45%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6 4.f4 Qa5

At club level

Below 2000 the most common answer to 3...g6 is the calm 4.Nf3, with 4.Bg5 second. At 2000+ the choices are spread between 4.f4 (20%), 4.Nf3, 4.Be3 and 4.Bg5. White scores about 54% after 4.Be3, so learn when to delay castling against the Be3–Qd2–Bh6 plan.

Practice it

The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.

Practice as Black Practice as White

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