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Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation

1.0M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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White Expected Score54.7%Range (90% confident): 54.7% – 54.8%Based on 1.0M games
0%54.7%100%
Range (90% confident): 54.7% – 54.8%
Outcome Distribution
52.8%3.8%43.4%
Win
Draw
Loss
4.Bg5
Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation
Analyzen=1.0M
Avg Length33 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate3.8%

What is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation expected score for White?

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a 54.7% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 54.7% and 54.8%), based on 1.0M Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 48% → 58%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 48.4% win rate (18,079 games)
  • 1000-1199: 50.8% win rate (63,944 games)
  • 1200-1399: 51.1% win rate (133,060 games)
  • 1400-1599: 51.5% win rate (190,875 games)
  • 1600-1799: 52.0% win rate (204,038 games)
  • 1800-1999: 53.1% win rate (179,431 games)
  • 2000-2199: 55.1% win rate (143,636 games)
  • 2200-2499: 56.5% win rate (96,767 games)
  • 2500+: 58.4% win rate (15,176 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Best in Bullet (53%), worst in Classical (50%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 52.8% win rate (236 games)
  • Bullet: 53.2% win rate (288,566 games)
  • Blitz: 52.9% win rate (571,275 games)
  • Rapid: 52.1% win rate (178,830 games)
  • Classical: 50.2% win rate (6,099 games)

White% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

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, UltraBullet: 10.0% expected score (6 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 46.5% expected score (6,039 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 51.5% expected score (9,456 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 52.1% expected score (2,574 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 31.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 54.0% expected score (11 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 50.0% expected score (18,011 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 53.2% expected score (35,580 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 54.0% expected score (10,265 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 60.2% expected score (77 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 52.8% expected score (17 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 51.2% expected score (32,091 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 53.5% expected score (73,388 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 52.9% expected score (27,038 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 50.9% expected score (526 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 55.7% expected score (78 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 51.7% expected score (40,617 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 53.8% expected score (105,339 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 53.6% expected score (43,069 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 51.5% expected score (1,772 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (44 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 53.2% expected score (45,496 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 54.0% expected score (112,457 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 54.3% expected score (44,197 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 53.0% expected score (1,844 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 46.9% expected score (30 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 54.7% expected score (43,221 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 55.6% expected score (102,928 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 54.8% expected score (31,915 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 53.0% expected score (1,337 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 63.2% expected score (25 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 57.5% expected score (43,576 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 57.1% expected score (84,353 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 57.2% expected score (15,221 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 58.7% expected score (461 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 72.6% expected score (25 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 58.6% expected score (47,129 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 58.8% expected score (45,051 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 62.2% expected score (4,484 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 64.5% expected score (78 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 61.1% expected score (12,386 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 59.5% expected score (2,723 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 71.2% expected score (67 games)

Related Openings

Parent
Pirc Defense
49.1%
Variations (5)
Pirc Defense: 150 Attack
48.0%
Pirc Defense: 150 Attack, Sveshnikov-Jansa Attack
51.7%
Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack
51.7%
Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Dragon Formation
47.5%
Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack, Kurajica Variation
49.9%
Analyze Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation win rate?

The Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a 52.8% (90% CI: 52.7%-52.9%) win rate for white, based on 1.0M rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation perform best?

The Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 58.4% win rate for white (15K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

Is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (53.2%) outperforms UltraBullet (52.8%) by 0.4%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation?

The Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a sharpness score of 96.2 (very decisive), meaning 96.2% of games end decisively. Average game length is 33 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation win rate at 0-999 Elo?

At 0-999 Elo, the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a 48.4% (90% CI: 47.8%-49.0%) win rate for white, based on 18K Lichess games. Average game length is 27 moves with a 2.9% draw rate.

What is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation win rate at 1000-1199 Elo?

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a 50.8% (90% CI: 50.5%-51.1%) win rate for white, based on 64K Lichess games. Average game length is 29 moves with a 3.2% draw rate.

What is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation win rate at 1200-1399 Elo?

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a 51.1% (90% CI: 50.9%-51.3%) win rate for white, based on 133K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.4% draw rate.

What is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation win rate at 1400-1599 Elo?

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a 51.5% (90% CI: 51.4%-51.7%) win rate for white, based on 191K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.5% draw rate.

What is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation win rate at 1600-1799 Elo?

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a 52.0% (90% CI: 51.8%-52.2%) win rate for white, based on 204K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.8% draw rate.

What is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation win rate at 1800-1999 Elo?

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a 53.1% (90% CI: 52.9%-53.3%) win rate for white, based on 179K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.1% draw rate.

What is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation win rate at 2000-2199 Elo?

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a 55.1% (90% CI: 54.9%-55.3%) win rate for white, based on 144K Lichess games. Average game length is 34 moves with a 4.2% draw rate.

What is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation win rate at 2200-2499 Elo?

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a 56.5% (90% CI: 56.3%-56.8%) win rate for white, based on 97K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.7% draw rate.

What is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation win rate at 2500+ Elo?

At 2500+ Elo, the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a 58.4% (90% CI: 57.7%-59.0%) win rate for white, based on 15K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 5.0% draw rate.

What is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation win rate in UltraBullet?

In UltraBullet games, the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a 52.8% (90% CI: 47.5%-58.1%) win rate for white (236 Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.6%.

What is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet games, the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a 53.2% (90% CI: 53.0%-53.3%) win rate for white (289K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.7%.

What is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz games, the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a 52.9% (90% CI: 52.8%-53.0%) win rate for white (571K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.1%.

What is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid games, the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a 52.1% (90% CI: 51.9%-52.3%) win rate for white (179K Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.6%.

What is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation win rate in Classical?

In Classical games, the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation has a 50.2% (90% CI: 49.2%-51.3%) win rate for white (6.1K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.6%.

Is the Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation a good opening?

The Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation is statistically favors white with a 52.8% (90% CI: 52.7%-52.9%) win rate across all ratings. It performs best at 2500+ Elo. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.