Pirc defence

chess opening 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3

The Pirc defence is one of the asymmetrical hypermodern defences, usually to 1.e4. It is similar to the Modern defence, but reserves the decision as to whether to fianchetto the g8 bishop.

Pirc defence: 1.e4 d6
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
g8 black knight
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
d6 black pawn
e4 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
d2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh

Because it is so flexible it lends itself to transpositions. This is one of the main lines:

Pirc defence: a main line
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
f8 black rook
g8 black king
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black bishop
h7 black pawn
a6 black knight
d6 black pawn
f6 black knight
g6 black pawn
c5 black pawn
d4 white pawn
e4 white pawn
f4 white pawn
c3 white knight
d3 white bishop
f3 white knight
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
c2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
f1 white rook
g1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
1.e4 d6
2.d4 Nf6
3.Nc3 g6
4.f4 Bg7
5.Nf3 0-0
6.Bd3 Na6
7.0-0 c5

A completely different idea is:

1.e4 d6
2.d4 Nf6
3.Nc3 Nbd7
4.Nf3 e5

which is a transposition into Philidor's defence. Another idea is:

1.d4 d6
2.Nf3 Bg4

which is called Wade's defence.