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Pirc Defense: Classical Variation

5.2M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Playable
White Expected Score51.3%Range (90% confident): 51.3% – 51.4%Based on 5.2M games
0%51.3%100%
Range (90% confident): 51.3% – 51.4%
Outcome Distribution
49.2%4.1%46.6%
Win
Draw
Loss
4...Bg7
Pirc Defense: Classical Variation
Analyzen=5.2M
Avg Length34 moves
Sharpness96%
Draw Rate4.1%

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

Snapshot

At all ratings, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a 51.3% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 51.3% and 51.4%), based on 5.2M Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 46% → 53%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 46.4% win rate (185,509 games)
  • 1000-1199: 48.7% win rate (428,889 games)
  • 1200-1399: 49.0% win rate (709,080 games)
  • 1400-1599: 49.0% win rate (940,582 games)
  • 1600-1799: 49.1% win rate (1,023,164 games)
  • 1800-1999: 49.2% win rate (928,194 games)
  • 2000-2199: 49.7% win rate (596,470 games)
  • 2200-2499: 51.3% win rate (326,555 games)
  • 2500+: 52.7% win rate (62,121 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Similar across time controls (~49%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 48.3% win rate (9,237 games)
  • Bullet: 49.3% win rate (2,136,518 games)
  • Blitz: 49.2% win rate (2,294,493 games)
  • Rapid: 49.1% win rate (734,947 games)
  • Classical: 48.1% win rate (25,369 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: 35.6% expected score (158 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 46.4% expected score (60,714 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 49.4% expected score (87,876 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 49.0% expected score (36,564 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 44.2% expected score (197 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 41.7% expected score (444 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 49.0% expected score (146,078 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 51.5% expected score (201,071 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 51.4% expected score (80,321 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 49.0% expected score (975 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 42.7% expected score (1,014 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.6% expected score (239,585 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 51.5% expected score (330,569 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 51.8% expected score (134,705 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 50.5% expected score (3,207 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 44.1% expected score (1,977 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 50.1% expected score (316,563 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 51.5% expected score (446,366 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (167,547 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 50.8% expected score (8,129 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 50.2% expected score (1,789 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (366,474 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 51.4% expected score (489,923 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 51.8% expected score (157,626 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 51.6% expected score (7,352 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 53.6% expected score (1,554 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 51.3% expected score (387,283 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 51.3% expected score (426,642 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 52.0% expected score (108,341 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 51.3% expected score (4,374 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 55.1% expected score (1,253 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 51.7% expected score (321,454 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 52.3% expected score (231,986 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 52.8% expected score (40,753 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 57.3% expected score (1,024 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 56.2% expected score (951 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 53.0% expected score (242,470 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 55.7% expected score (74,102 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 57.7% expected score (8,934 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 56.5% expected score (98 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 58.6% expected score (97 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 55.5% expected score (55,897 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 58.4% expected score (5,958 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 61.1% expected score (156 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 63.8% expected score (13 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%
Continuations (5)
Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System
50.0%
Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Chigorin Line
48.0%
Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense
50.1%
Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Quiet System, Parma Defense
49.6%
Pirc Defense: Classical Variation, Schlechter Variation
50.2%
Analyze Pirc Defense: Classical Variation PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation win rate?

The Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a 49.2% (90% CI: 49.2%-49.3%) win rate for white, based on 5.2M rated games from Lichess.

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

The Pirc Defense: Classical Variation performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 52.7% win rate for white (62K games). Win rate tends to decline at higher ratings as opponents know the theory better.

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

Bullet (49.3%) outperforms UltraBullet (48.3%) by 1.0%. Choose your time control wisely.

How sharp is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation?

The Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a sharpness score of 95.9 (very decisive), meaning 95.9% of games end decisively. Average game length is 34 moves.

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

At 0-999 Elo, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a 46.4% (90% CI: 46.2%-46.6%) win rate for white, based on 186K Lichess games. Average game length is 28 moves with a 3.7% draw rate.

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

At 1000-1199 Elo, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a 48.7% (90% CI: 48.6%-48.8%) win rate for white, based on 429K Lichess games. Average game length is 31 moves with a 3.7% draw rate.

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

At 1200-1399 Elo, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a 49.0% (90% CI: 48.9%-49.1%) win rate for white, based on 709K Lichess games. Average game length is 32 moves with a 3.7% draw rate.

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

At 1400-1599 Elo, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a 49.0% (90% CI: 48.9%-49.1%) win rate for white, based on 941K Lichess games. Average game length is 33 moves with a 3.9% draw rate.

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

At 1600-1799 Elo, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a 49.1% (90% CI: 49.0%-49.2%) win rate for white, based on 1.0M Lichess games. Average game length is 35 moves with a 4.1% draw rate.

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

At 1800-1999 Elo, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a 49.2% (90% CI: 49.1%-49.3%) win rate for white, based on 928K Lichess games. Average game length is 36 moves with a 4.4% draw rate.

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

At 2000-2199 Elo, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a 49.7% (90% CI: 49.6%-49.8%) win rate for white, based on 596K Lichess games. Average game length is 37 moves with a 4.6% draw rate.

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

At 2200-2499 Elo, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a 51.3% (90% CI: 51.2%-51.5%) win rate for white, based on 327K Lichess games. Average game length is 38 moves with a 4.8% draw rate.

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

At 2500+ Elo, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a 52.7% (90% CI: 52.4%-53.1%) win rate for white, based on 62K Lichess games. Average game length is 41 moves with a 6.2% draw rate.

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

In UltraBullet games, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a 48.3% (90% CI: 47.5%-49.2%) win rate for white (9.2K Lichess games). Draw rate is 2.1%.

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

In Bullet games, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a 49.3% (90% CI: 49.2%-49.3%) win rate for white (2.1M Lichess games). Draw rate is 3.2%.

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

In Blitz games, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a 49.2% (90% CI: 49.2%-49.3%) win rate for white (2.3M Lichess games). Draw rate is 4.7%.

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

In Rapid games, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a 49.1% (90% CI: 49.0%-49.2%) win rate for white (735K Lichess games). Draw rate is 5.2%.

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

In Classical games, the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation has a 48.1% (90% CI: 47.6%-48.6%) win rate for white (25K Lichess games). Draw rate is 6.3%.

Is the Pirc Defense: Classical Variation a good opening?

The Pirc Defense: Classical Variation is statistically balanced with a 49.2% (90% CI: 49.2%-49.3%) 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.