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Attacking the Pirc Defense
Course
50 episodes
(2 hours 27 min)
(2 hours 27 min)
Creators
GM Avetik Grigoryan
It’s easy to ignore preparing against the Pirc Defense. After all Black is breaking the basic opening principles so White should have more than one good way to play against it.
However, this is where the problem lies.
Even if Black breaks the opening principles, their position is free from any obvious weakness.
And because White has many good options, choosing the best one might not be easy...
See moreIn this course, our Grandmasters offer you the 2 most dangerous setups against the Pirc, where you won’t have to remember a lot of theory.
Both setups are easy to play with White and unpleasant for Black.
Below you can see the diagrams taken from the course.
After watching the course you’ll be ready to fight for an advantage against the Pirc Defense.
P.S. A special thanks to IM Shahinyan and IM Torosyan for helping us analyze the lines.
What you'll learn
- A full repertoire for White in the Pirc Defense after 1.e4 d6, covering mainlines, sidelines and other ideas.
- Why do top Grandmasters rarely play this opening?
- 2 opening setups to counter the Pirc Defense.
- The Grand Prix Setup, which is strong against both, the Sicilian and the Pirc Defense.
- An alternative setup starting with 4.Bf4!? — a rare but very interesting move that combines the main ideas of 2 other lines and more.
Course Content
-
50
Episodes -
2
Attachments -
2 hours 27 min
4.8
Students give this course an average of 4.8 out of 5 stars.
Nevan Ashad
Is the black lion covered in the czech pirc? 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 and then e5
Santo D'Agostino
Nice! I don't prefer the Grand Prix setup with White, so I really appreciate having the 4. Bf4 lines explained in detail.
GM_Avetik Grigoryan
Thanks, Santo! Why don't you like the GP attack?
Santo D'Agostino
It's an interesting question. I think the reason is not a rational one, but a psychological one. I see myself with White as an "open Sicilian" player, so I have not taken the time to learn the GP attack. I also play the Sicilian with Black, so that also plays into my preferences. But maybe I should give your GP courses a look!
David Faldon
The lines with 1.e4 d6 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 e5 4.Nf3 exf4 look good for white (as covered here) but I had trouble in one game after 1.e4 d6 2.Nc3 e5 3.f4 exf4 4.Nf3 g5. I was going to ask for advice as I couldn't find this line in the course, but I've just realised that I should have played 3.Nf3. Muppet!
ChessMood
Thanks!
Thomas H.
Karl-Heinz Kotitschke
The course helped me in luckylie winning: Thanks a lot.
DWZ(1785) - (1923)
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 g6 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 Bg7 5. Qd2 a6 6. O-O-O O-O 7. f3 c6 8. Bh6 Qa5 9. Kb1 e5 10. d5 c5 11. h4 b5 12. h5 Qc7 13. g4 Qe7 14. Nge2 Bxh6 15. Qxh6 Ne8 16. Ng3 g5 17. Nf5 Bxf5 18. exf5 f6 19. a4 bxa4 20. Bc4 Nd7 21. Ne4 Nc7 22. Rhe1 Kh8 23. f4 gxf4 24. Rg1 Ne8 25. g5 Qg7 26. Qxg7+ Kxg7 27. h6+ Kf7 28. g6+ Kg8 29. Be2 hxg6 30. fxg6 Ra7 31. g7 1-0
ChessMood
Thanks!
Nice attack!
Karl-Heinz Kotitschke
Good course!
I will soon play an higher rated apponent who plays always pirc or kings indian
I will start with my london 1.d4 Knf6 2. Bf4 g6 3.Knc3
and he might be happy to go into a pirc.
If he play 3...d5 it is not his known kings indian.
We will see.
Best of luck!
ChessMood
Nice!
Giorgos Kechagias
Sooner or later, everything becomes great!!!
ChessMood
yes!
Artyom Manukyan
WIM_Siranush Ghukasyan
Sharan Sridhar
Gor Avetisyan
Ihor Nester
On the date 26.03.2020 the Pirc course is too short, simplified, no section 2 with 2.d4, 3.Nc3 and 4.Bf4 - its advertised in the introduction, but unfortunately unavailable. Also no pgn.
Mark Wilkin
Where is the second setup with bf4?
ChessMood
It's there, section 2 :)
endlicheri G
Mikhail Salnikov
GM_Avetik Grigoryan
GM Avetik Grigoryan
After having a successful playing career where he became the Armenian Champion in 2010, GM Avetik Grigoryan found his passion for chess coaching and switched to it full-time.
Since then, he has guided many ambitious players to become Grandmasters and International Masters and has over 10 years of coaching experience.
He believes anyone can improve at chess, with the right mood and proper direction. And with that vision, he founded ChessMood in 2018.
After having a successful playing career where he became the Armenian Champion in 2010, GM Avetik Grigoryan found his passion for chess coaching and switched to it full-time.
Since then, he has guided many ambitious players to become Grandmasters and International Masters and has over 10 years of coaching experience.
He believes anyone can improve at chess, with the right mood and proper direction. And with that vision, he founded ChessMood in 2018.
The Pirc Defense arises after 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 and is also known as the Yugoslav Defense or Ufimtsev Defense.
History of the Pirc Defense
The game between John Cochrane - Mohishunder Bonnerjee in Calcutta, 1850 saw the Pirc Defense for the first time. White went on to win the game.
However, the opening is named in honor of Yugoslavian Grandmaster Vasja Pirc. He first employed this line against Sadi Kalabar in the 1946 Yugoslav Championship. The game ended in a draw.
How is the Pirc Defense different from the Czech Pirc and the Modern Pirc?
Above we show how the Pirc Defense arises, let’s compare it with the other two openings.
In the Pirc Defense, Black develops their f6-knight first, before playing ...g6. The move order is – 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6.
In the Modern Pirc, Black develops their Bishop first, with ...g6 and ...Bg7. The move order is – 1.e4 g6 2.d4 d6.
The Czech Pirc is an extension of the Pirc Defense. Black follows the normal move order but instead of continuing with 3...g6(which is the normal Pirc), they play 3...c6. The move order is – 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6.
How should we play against the Pirc Defense?
There are many dangerous lines to use against the Pirc Defense. One of them is to use the Grand Prix setup, which is similar to the one employed in the Anti-Sicilian.
Our Grandmaster team recommends the other line, which is 4.Bf4. With this, White strengthens their control over the e5-square.
If Black castles early with 0-0 White can launch an attack on the kingside with h4-h5, Qd2-Bh6 etc.
If Black tries to expand on the queenside with ...c6-b5, then White’s Bf4 plays an important role in supporting the central thrust e5.
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Course
50
Episodes
2
Attachments
2 hours 27 min
50
2
2 hours 27 min
Creators
GM Avetik Grigoryan
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