Pirc Defense: 150 Attack

About this variation

White plays Be3 and Qd2, preparing Bh6 to trade Black's fianchettoed bishop and attack the king.

The 150 Attack is 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 followed by Qd2. White aims to castle long and attack with h4-h5 and Bh6, trading Black's key bishop on g7. The name comes from the idea that a club player graded about 150 in the old British system (roughly 1800 Elo) could play it, since the plan is simple and direct.

Black's main replies include 4...c6 with ...b5, gaining queenside space and preparing counterplay against White's king if it castles long, and 4...Bg7 5. Qd2 O-O, castling and preparing ...c5 or ...e5. Black can also delay castling to avoid walking into White's attack.

White's plan is clear: Qd2, f3 or Nf3, O-O-O, h4-h5 and Bh6 to trade the bishop on g7. If White succeeds, Black's king can become very weak. White should be careful not to neglect the center, since Black's counterplay with ...c5 or ...e5 can open lines.

Black's typical counterplay comes on the queenside with ...b5, ...a5 and ...Qa5, aiming at White's king. Black also has central breaks with ...e5 or ...d5, which can blunt White's attack. Timing is critical: Black must strike before White's attack arrives.

The 150 Attack suits White players who want a simple, aggressive plan against the Pirc. Black players should learn how to meet it, since it is popular at club level and can be dangerous against unprepared opponents.

A typical mistake for Black is to castle short and then play slowly, which lets White's attack arrive at full speed. A typical mistake for White is to start the attack before finishing development, giving Black time to break in the center. Both sides do best by counting moves and comparing how fast each attack is.

It is one of the main lines of the Pirc Defense.