Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...d6/2. d4/2...Nf6/3. Nc3

Pirc Defence
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkb1r/ppp1pppp/3p1n2/8/3PP3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1BQKBNR b
Moves: 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3

Pirc Defence

3.Nc3

White replies to Black's developing move with a developing move of his own, 3.Nc3. The move is noncommittal, as the knight was probably going to go to c3 anyway. It protects the e-pawn and maintains White's large center.

Theory table

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3

	4
Main Line	... 3...g6	=
	... 3...e5	=
	... 3...Nbd7	=

References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.