Classical Variation of the Pirc Defense | Chess Openings

The Classical Pirc setup is the epitome of classical chess, and it’s the opposite of black’s hyper modern approach.

For the basics of the Pirc Defense, watch this introductory video:    • Pirc Defense | Ideas, Principles and Commo...  

For a more aggressive alternative to the Classical Variation, learn the Austrian Attack (f4!):    • The Austrian Attack | Pirc Defense Opening...  

In the Classical Pirc (also known as two knights), white follows the basic chess rules and develops according to classical chess principles; take the center with your pawns, develop your minor pieces (knights before bishops), and castle. Black, on the other hand, follows a completely different chess philosophy – the hyper-modernists! With the Pirc, black neglects the rules classical chess teaches and fianchettoes his kingside bishop and castles in the opening, without ever contesting the central squares.

The idea behind the opening is to strike at white’s broad center later, when all the forces have been mobilized and when the king is tucked away. The Pirc is similar to the KID and it has a similar pawn structure and attacking ideas for black and for white.

The Classical variation is white’s most principled response to the hyper-modern monster. Developing, expanding and slowly building a kingside assault, while, in the meantime, black has to play dynamically and try to pen things up in the center in order to activate his pieces.

After the opening moves 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6, the Classical starts after white plays 4. Nf3
Black continues with 4...Bg7, and here white gets to choose a variation. There are five common moves for white (several other of white’s options are playable but not as precise):

Pirc Defense
B07, Classical Variation

5. Be2 Quiet System
6...c6 Czech Defense
6...Bg4 Parma Defense
5. h3 Schlechter Variation
5. Be3
5. Bc4
5. Bf4

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