How to beat the Pirc & Modern Defense

Black lets White build a big centre and attacks it later from the flanks with a fianchettoed bishop. It's flexible and hard to prepare for, but it gives White easy, natural moves.

Three plans that work

1. Build the big centre

e4, d4, Nc3 and Be3 with Qd2 (the 150 Attack) is simple and dangerous: castle long and push h4-h5.

2. Trade the g7 bishop

Be3, Qd2 and Bh6 removes Black's best piece and weakens the king.

3. Avoid premature pawn storms

Get your pieces developed before e5 or f4 pawn breaks, so Black can't hit a loose centre.

A line to play

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.Qd2

The pitfall

Black's counterplay with ...c5 or ...e5 comes fast if you don't develop. Development first, attack second.

What the data says

In 223 recent games of the top 100 titled Lichess players featuring the Pirc & Modern Defense, they scored 70% on average. Players who use it most: FM Heisenberg01 (81%), GM Platy2 (83%), GM Lintchevski_Daniil (84%), IM Secret_Magnus (66%), IM Mishka_The_Great (34%), IM TenzaSangetsu (69%), GM TonyGazzo (70%), IM AlexTriapishko (70%).

Prepare against the actual player

Averages only go so far. A Pirc & Modern Defense player has their own pet variations and weak spots. Before your next game, get a free fingerprint of your opponent, or get the full prep report ($5): every variation they play, where they score worst, and a game plan for both colours.