ECO B07 · Pirc Defense

Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. h4

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

5… h5+0.52

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack (B07), reached after 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. h4, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… h5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.52).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.525… h5 6. Nf3 O-O 7. a4 Bg4 8. a5 c6 9. Ng5 Bxe2 10. Nxe2
  2. +0.595… O-O 6. h5 c5 7. hxg6 hxg6 8. d5 e6 9. dxe6 Bxe6 10. Bh6
  3. +0.625… c5 6. d5 Nbd7 7. a4 Ne5 8. f4 Neg4 9. h5 Bd7 10. a5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack?
After 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. h4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… h5 for Black, continuing 6. Nf3 O-O 7. a4 Bg4 8. a5 c6 9. Ng5 Bxe2 10. Nxe2. White is slightly better (+0.52). The next best moves are 5… O-O (+0.59) and 5… c5 (+0.62).
Is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.52: 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: Bayonet Attack?
B07. 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+).