ECO B09 · Pirc Defense

Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Dragon Formation

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 c5

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

6. dxc5+0.44

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Dragon Formation (B09), reached after 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 c5, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. dxc5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.44).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.446. dxc5 Qa5 7. Bd3 Qxc5 8. Qe2 Nc6 9. Be3 Qa5 10. O-O Bg4
  2. +0.446. Bb5+ Bd7 7. e5 Ng4 8. Bxd7+ Qxd7 9. h3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Nc6
  3. +0.286. d5 O-O 7. Bd3 e6 8. dxe6 Bxe6 9. f5 gxf5 10. exf5 Bc8

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Dragon Formation?
After 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 c5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. dxc5 for White, continuing Qa5 7. Bd3 Qxc5 8. Qe2 Nc6 9. Be3 Qa5 10. O-O Bg4. White is slightly better (+0.44). The next best moves are 6. Bb5+ (+0.44) and 6. d5 (+0.28).
Is the Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Dragon Formation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.44: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Dragon Formation?
B09. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; B is the volume for semi-open games (other than the French).

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).