Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...d6/2. d4/2...Nf6

Black develops their knight and attacks e4. This is the main line of the Pirc defence. White has several ways to defend the e-pawn.

3. Nc3 is most common. Black's usual plan is 3...g6 and 4...Bg7, fianchettoing the bishop and preparing to castle. Black's slower play gives White a chance to take more space. White can take space on the king's side with 4. f4, the Austrian Attack, followed by Nf3. White clamps down on the e5 square to prevent Black from achieving the freeing move ...e5. If 3...e5 instead, the position transposes to a Nimzowitsch Philidor after 4. Nf3.

3. f3, the Lion's Jaw, is an alternative way of defending e4 which keeps the option of taking space with c4. 3...g6 4. c4 Bg7 5. Nc3 transposes into a Sämisch King's Indian. Alternatively, this allows 3...e5, where 4. dxe5 leads to a trade of queens (4...dxe5 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Bc4 Ke8) so 4. d5 may be better.

3. Bd3 or 3. Nd2 are employed occasionally to defend e4 without obstructing c4.

3. Bc4!? allows 3...Nxe4 but White can recover the material with 4. Bxf7+ Kxf7 5. Qh5+ g6 6. Qd5+ Be6 7. Qxe4.

3. Nf3? the Roscher gambit, gambits the pawn. After 3...Nxe4 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. c4 White hopes to prove a development advantage, but they are not considered to get compensation for the pawn. Black can decline the gambit with 3...g6, and White has nothing better than to transpose into the Classical Pirc with 4. Nc3.

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6

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• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.