3. 150 Attack with 4.Be3 c6 5.Qd2 b5!
The 150 Attack is a swift, direct setup where White prepares long castling and an opposite-side pawn storm. Black counters decisively with 4...c6 and the prompt 5...b5! expansion, seizing space and beating White in the race to the king.
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.Qd2 b5 6.f3 Nbd7 7.Nge2 Nb6
Move by move
- 1.e4 – White opens with the classical 1.e4, staking a claim in the center and freeing diagonals for both the f1 bishop and the queen.
- 1...d6 – You respond with the hypermodern 1...d6: flexible and understated, controlling e5 while waiting to see White's chosen setup.
- 2.d4 – White seizes the full classical pawn center with 2.d4, claiming wide central territory on d4 and e4 with complete freedom.
- 2...Nf6 – You develop the knight to f6, putting immediate pressure on White's unprotected e4 pawn and compelling a defensive response.
- 3.Nc3 – White defends the e4 pawn by developing the knight to its natural post on c3, reinforcing their central foundation securely.
- 3...g6 – The trademark move of the Pirc Defense! You prepare to fianchetto your bishop to g7 to put long-range pressure on White's center.
- 4.Be3 – The 150 Attack: White develops the bishop to e3 with the blunt intention of playing Qd2, Bh6, and launching an opposite-side attack.
- 4...c6 – Flexible prophylactic play with 4...c6: preparing an immediate queenside b5 thrust while controlling the crucial central d5 square.
- 5.Qd2 – White's queen steps up to d2, creating a battery with the e3 bishop and signaling clear intentions to castle long on the queenside.
- 5...b5 – Energetic and prompt expansion with 5...b5! You unleash a fierce queenside storm before White can complete queenside castling.
- 6.f3 – White secures e4 with 6.f3 to rule out Ng4 jumps and prepare a g4 thrust, but this slows down their own piece development.
- 6...Nbd7 – You develop the knight to d7: reinforcing your b5 pawn, preparing the b4 push, and keeping open paths to reroute via b6.
- 7.Nge2 – White develops the knight to e2, leaving the f-pawn free and preparing castling, but your queenside initiative strikes faster.
- 7...Nb6 – Brilliant knight leap with 7...Nb6! You zero in on the weakened c4 and a4 squares, putting tremendous pressure on White's camp.
How to exploit the position
Prepare queenside space expansion with the flexible pawn move c6
- Launch the aggressive b5 pawn advance to gain space and threaten c3
- Develop the knight to d7 to reinforce central breaks or jump to b6
- Reroute the knight to b6 targeting the softened c4 and a4 squares
- Counter White's Bh6 ideas while keeping open attacking files on their king
Master tips
The 5...b5 advance is the premier response against White's 150 Attack
Delay castling if White is already rolling forward with h4-h5