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Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack

54K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

White expected score · All ratings · All speeds

55.7%

45%60%
Floor55.3%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 56.0%.

Measured over 54K games at this level and clock.

Play Thiswins clearly more often than it loses at this level

A strong choice for White at this level and clock.

Outcomes for White

Draw 3.9 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 54K games

Rank among the families White can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
54K
Best context
61.8% at 1200-1399 Blitz
Worst context
52.4% at 2000-2199 Rapid
Average game length
33 moves
Games that end decisively
96.1%
Draws
3.9%

Best and worst are the strongest and weakest squares with at least 500 games behind them. The table further down shows every square, including thinner ones.

Extra Analysis

Deep-dive datasets for this opening

Time-Control Swing

Max swing: 12.1% · Classical best · Blitz worst

Where it holds · White score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for White, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It falls away as the rating rises: 72.4% at 0-999, 60.0% at 2500+.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999——
1000-1199——
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999
2000-2199
2200-2499—
2500+—

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 74.7% expected score (35 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 66.5% expected score (41 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 76.0% expected score (12 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 59.7% expected score (237 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 63.7% expected score (170 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 65.8% expected score (46 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 56.7% expected score (731 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 61.8% expected score (633 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 60.2% expected score (146 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 55.9% expected score (7 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 58.2% expected score (950 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 57.6% expected score (1,623 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 57.3% expected score (396 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 89.1% expected score (19 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 70.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 58.3% expected score (2,193 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 55.3% expected score (3,357 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 56.6% expected score (787 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 63.6% expected score (50 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (2 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 56.5% expected score (3,049 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 53.1% expected score (6,538 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 57.0% expected score (1,267 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 71.3% expected score (83 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 78.6% expected score (2 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 55.7% expected score (4,442 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 55.1% expected score (10,280 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.4% expected score (975 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 57.1% expected score (34 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 55.2% expected score (5,374 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 55.1% expected score (7,834 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 59.4% expected score (521 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (7 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 56.1% expected score (1,731 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 59.8% expected score (701 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 74.2% expected score (13 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 50.0% expected score (2 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Pirc Defense
49.1%
Variations (5)
Pirc Defense: Classical Variation
49.2%
Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation
52.8%
Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit
47.1%
Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack
51.7%
Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Schlechter Variation
50.2%
Analyze Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack scores 55.7% for White — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 55.3% and 56.0% — from 54K Lichess games. Win rate, draw rate and loss rate come from games played December 2023 to November 2025.

How the figures are made
Whose games these are
54K+ rated games played on Lichess (2023-12 to 2025-11). The games are Lichess’s and free for anyone to use. What is ours is the reading of them. Last rebuilt January 2026.
Which games we count
  • Rated games only — nothing casual.
  • Both players within 200 rating points of each other. A mismatch tells you about the gap, not about the opening.
  • At least 2 moves played.
  • A game is filed under White’s rating.
Why every number comes with a range
A number off a few hundred games is a guess. The same number off millions is a fact. The range is what tells them apart, and it is what the lists rank on — so an opening cannot reach the top on a lucky run of forty games. The more games behind a figure, the narrower its range.
How much we need before we say anything
An opening page needs 100 games. A gambit needs 50 games at a rating before we will say whether it pays there. The chaos and trap lists need 500 games overall and 250 games at one rating or clock.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack win rate?

Playing the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack, White wins 53.7%, draws 3.9% and loses 42.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.7%. It rests on 54K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack perform best?

The Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack performs best for White at 0-999, with an Expected Score of 71.8% (88 games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack better in blitz or rapid?

For White, the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack scores higher in Rapid: an Expected Score of 55.1% in Blitz (31K games) against 56.5% in Rapid (4.2K games).

How sharp is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack?

The Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack has a sharpness score of 96.1 (very decisive), meaning 96.1% of games end decisively. Average game length is 33 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, White wins 61.5%, draws 0.8% and loses 37.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 61.9%. It rests on 453 Lichess games, which average 23 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, White wins 58.4%, draws 1.5% and loses 40.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 59.2%. It rests on 1.5K Lichess games, which average 26 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, White wins 56.6%, draws 2.7% and loses 40.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 58.0%. It rests on 3.0K Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, White wins 55.3%, draws 2.4% and loses 42.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.5%. It rests on 6.4K Lichess games, which average 30 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, White wins 53.0%, draws 3.3% and loses 43.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 54.6%. It rests on 11K Lichess games, which average 32 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, White wins 53.1%, draws 4.0% and loses 42.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.1%. It rests on 16K Lichess games, which average 34 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, White wins 52.8%, draws 4.9% and loses 42.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.3%. It rests on 14K Lichess games, which average 36 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, White wins 53.8%, draws 6.9% and loses 39.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 57.3%. It rests on 2.4K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, White wins 54.8%, draws 2.9% and loses 42.3%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.3%. It rests on 19K Lichess games.

What is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, White wins 53.0%, draws 4.3% and loses 42.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 55.1%. It rests on 31K Lichess games.

What is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, White wins 54.0%, draws 4.9% and loses 41.0%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 56.5%. It rests on 4.2K Lichess games.

What is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack win rate in Classical?

In Classical, White wins 65.1%, draws 5.2% and loses 29.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 67.7%. It rests on 202 Lichess games.

Is the Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack a good opening?

The Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack is good for White. Across all ratings, White wins 53.7% of its games and loses 42.4%. It performs best at 0-999. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.