Chess Openings Lab
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Pirc Defense: Kholmov System

The Kholmov System meets the Pirc with 4.Bc4, putting the bishop on the a2-g8 diagonal toward f7 before the king's knight comes out. White wants quick development, Qe2 and sometimes an h4 attack, while Black finishes the fianchetto and blunts the bishop with ...c6 and ...d5 ideas.

Moves
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bc4
ECO
B07
Engine
+0.30 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
982 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.4%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Follow 4...Bg7 with 5.Nf3 and 6.Qe2, so the queen supports an e5 push and covers the e4 pawn.
  • Drop the bishop back to b3 when ...c6 and ...d5 threaten it, keeping pressure on f7 and the long diagonal.
  • After Black castles, h4 and h5 can pry open the h-file against the king on g8.
  • If Black grabs with ...Nxe4, the trick Bxf7+ Kxf7 and Nxe4 wins the pawn back and leaves Black's king exposed.

Black

  • Play 4...Bg7 and castle; the engine's top line shows ...c6 and ...Nbd7 as a solid follow-up.
  • Use ...c6 to prepare ...d5 or ...b5, gaining time on the c4 bishop and challenging e4.
  • Do not take on e4 at once: the fork trick with Bxf7+ costs Black the right to castle.
  • Against a d5 push, reroute the c6 knight to b8 or d7 and aim for ...c6 or ...e6 later.

Plans and pawn structure

The bishop on c4 looks at f7 but can be hit by ...d5 or ...b5, so White usually retreats it to b3 and keeps it on the diagonal. With e4 and d4 in place, White's main plan is Qe2, Nf3 and either e5 or a kingside push with h4. Black stays compact with ...Bg7, ...O-O, ...c6 and ...Nbd7, then breaks with ...e5 or ...d5 when White has spent moves on the attack. The structure is a classical center against Black's ...d6 and ...g6 setup.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.30: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.30 4...Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Qe2 c6 7.Bb3
  2. +0.49 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.d5 Nb8 7.h3
  3. +0.58 4...Nxe4 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe4 Bg7 7.c3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

982 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.4%.

under 120047.4%
1200–159951.7%
1600–199955.0%
2000 and up51.8%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As Black, develop with ...Bg7 and ...O-O and only then play ...c6. Leave the e4 pawn alone for now, because ...Nxe4 runs into Bxf7+ and Nxe4. If White starts h4, answer in the center with ...e5 or ...d5 rather than waiting.

Questions

What are the moves of the Pirc Defense: Kholmov System?

The Pirc Defense: Kholmov System starts 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bc4. Its ECO code is B07.

Is the Pirc Defense: Kholmov System good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.30 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 982 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.4%. Good for White players who like direct piece play and simple attacking setups, while Black must avoid the early pawn grab and stay patient.

What is the main idea of the Pirc Defense: Kholmov System?

White develops the bishop to c4 early, eyes f7, and follows with Nf3, Qe2 and sometimes h4. Black completes ...Bg7 and ...O-O, then uses ...c6 with ...d5 or ...b5 to push the bishop around.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Bg7, with Nc6 and Nxe4 close behind. 4...Bg7 completes the fianchetto and keeps Black safe from the Bxf7+ trick that follows a pawn grab on e4.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.