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Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense

47K games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

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Analyze this line move by move

Black expected score · All ratings · All speeds

47.0%

40%55%
Floor46.6%

the worst score you would still get, 90% confident. At best 47.4%.

Measured over 47K games at this level and clock.

Tough Sellloses more often than it wins at this level

Black comes out behind here — there are better weapons in the list.

Outcomes for Black

Draw 6.0 · Score = win + ½ of the draws · 47K games

Rank among the families Black can choose here
not ranked — this is a variation, not a family
Games in this context
47K
Best context
49.9% at 1400-1599 Blitz
Worst context
40.9% at 2500+ Blitz
Average game length
38 moves
Games that end decisively
94.0%
Draws
6.0%

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.

Where it holds · Black score by rating × clock

Green is clearly ahead for Black, grey is around even, red is behind. Tap a cell to measure there, and again to clear. It gets better as the rating rises: 44.5% at 0-999, 47.0% 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: 54.3% expected score (164 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 43.6% expected score (99 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 50.0% expected score (39 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 30.0% expected score (1 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 61.2% expected score (3 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 52.2% expected score (449 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 48.2% expected score (484 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 50.3% expected score (149 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 21.5% expected score (2 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.3% expected score (859 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 49.1% expected score (1,354 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 45.4% expected score (408 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 54.8% expected score (9 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 31.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.5% expected score (1,148 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (3,094 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 47.1% expected score (982 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 46.9% expected score (80 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 50.0% expected score (4 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 49.9% expected score (1,480 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 49.4% expected score (4,504 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 48.4% expected score (1,778 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 47.4% expected score (113 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 57.7% expected score (5 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 47.7% expected score (1,637 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 47.1% expected score (5,403 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 46.8% expected score (1,868 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 47.4% expected score (154 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 76.7% expected score (6 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 46.3% expected score (2,096 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 47.8% expected score (5,694 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 43.3% expected score (1,161 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 41.5% expected score (86 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 31.9% expected score (4 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 45.1% expected score (3,470 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 44.4% expected score (5,755 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 38.9% expected score (495 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 44.7% expected score (36 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 42.3% expected score (1,667 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 40.9% expected score (712 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 34.7% expected score (31 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 70.0% expected score (1 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: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense PositionsSee what each move is worth at your rating, move by move

Methodology

Across every rating and clock, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense scores 47.0% for Black — we are 90% confident the real figure is between 46.6% and 47.4% — from 47K 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
47K+ 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: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense win rate?

Playing the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense, Black wins 44.0%, draws 6.0% and loses 50.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.0%. It rests on 47K rated games from Lichess.

At what rating does the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense perform best?

The Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense performs best for Black at 1600-1799, with an Expected Score of 49.2% (7.9K games) and the highest Floor of any rating with enough games to read.

Is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense better in blitz or rapid?

For Black, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense scores higher in Blitz: an Expected Score of 47.3% in Blitz (27K games) against 46.1% in Rapid (6.9K games).

How sharp is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense?

The Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense has a sharpness score of 94.0 (decisive), meaning 94.0% of games end decisively. Average game length is 38 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense win rate at 0-999?

At 0-999, Black wins 49.4%, draws 1.1% and loses 49.4%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.0%. It rests on 303 Lichess games, which average 28 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense win rate at 1000-1199?

At 1000-1199, Black wins 48.8%, draws 2.7% and loses 48.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 50.2%. It rests on 1.1K Lichess games, which average 31 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense win rate at 1200-1399?

At 1200-1399, Black wins 46.8%, draws 3.4% and loses 49.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 48.6%. It rests on 2.6K Lichess games, which average 33 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense win rate at 1400-1599?

At 1400-1599, Black wins 47.1%, draws 4.3% and loses 48.6%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.3%. It rests on 5.3K Lichess games, which average 35 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense win rate at 1600-1799?

At 1600-1799, Black wins 46.6%, draws 5.2% and loses 48.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 49.2%. It rests on 7.9K Lichess games, which average 37 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense win rate at 1800-1999?

At 1800-1999, Black wins 44.1%, draws 6.0% and loses 49.8%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.2%. It rests on 9.1K Lichess games, which average 39 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense win rate at 2000-2199?

At 2000-2199, Black wins 43.8%, draws 6.1% and loses 50.1%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.9%. It rests on 9.0K Lichess games, which average 40 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense win rate at 2200-2499?

At 2200-2499, Black wins 40.5%, draws 7.6% and loses 51.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 44.3%. It rests on 9.8K Lichess games, which average 41 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense win rate at 2500+?

At 2500+, Black wins 36.8%, draws 9.9% and loses 53.2%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 41.8%. It rests on 2.4K Lichess games, which average 45 moves.

What is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense win rate in Bullet?

In Bullet, Black wins 44.6%, draws 4.5% and loses 50.9%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.9%. It rests on 13K Lichess games.

What is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense win rate in Blitz?

In Blitz, Black wins 44.1%, draws 6.4% and loses 49.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 47.3%. It rests on 27K Lichess games.

What is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense win rate in Rapid?

In Rapid, Black wins 42.6%, draws 6.9% and loses 50.5%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.1%. It rests on 6.9K Lichess games.

What is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense win rate in Classical?

In Classical, Black wins 41.0%, draws 10.3% and loses 48.7%. Counting a draw as half a point, that is an Expected Score of 46.2%. It rests on 480 Lichess games.

Is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense a good opening?

The Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense is hard work for Black — it favours White. Across all ratings, Black wins 44.0% of its games and loses 50.1%. It performs best at 1600-1799. Your results depend on your rating, time control, and how well you know the typical plans.