Pirc Defense (B07-B09) - Opening Theory

 

Black Magic Revealed
 Demystify the Pirc Defense

Black players, sharpen your arsenal! This one-stop shop unlocks the secrets of the Pirc Defense, a dynamic opening that offers a ton of benefits:

• Challenge White's Center: Fight for control from move one and disrupt your opponent's early plans.
  
  
• Dynamic & Unpredictable: The Pirc Defense leads to complex positions with rich possibilities, keeping your games exciting.
  
  
• Solid Yet Aggressive: Develop your pieces efficiently while creating chances for tactical opportunities.
  
  
• Suitable for All Levels: Whether you're a seasoned player or a curious beginner, the Pirc Defense offers a rewarding path to chess improvement.
  
  
• Free Resources Galore: This guide equips you with everything you need to master the Pirc Defense, completely free – dive into articles, videos, puzzles, and more!

Pirc Wikipedia Page

The Pirc Defence is a powerful and versatile opening that allows Black to challenge White's center control from the start. With proper play, Black can get a strong position and a good chance to win.
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6

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Free Pirc Defense Books & Courses

Supplement your Pirc Defense knowledge with these free resources, including Grandmaster repertoire recommendations and miniature collections to sharpen your tactics!

Internet Archive

• Grandmaster Repertoire The Pirc Defence - Mihail Marin - 418 Page PDF
  
  
• 500 Pirc Miniatures By Bill Wall - 89 Page PDF
  
  
• Alburt's Chess Openings: Pirc Alert! - A Complete Defense Against 1. e4 by Lev Alburt; Alex Chernin - 451 Page PDF

FREE Chessable Course 
Short & Sweet: Pirc Defense - - Learn 24 Variations w/ 2 hrs Free Video (Use Spaced repetition to train Course)

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Master the Pirc Defense: A Selection of Compelling Articles

Delve into the strategic intricacies of the Pirc Defense with these in-depth articles. Learn opening principles, explore common variations, and discover the dynamic ideas behind this aggressive opening.

The Pirc Defense - Simplify Chess Page  (In-depth Look at Opening)

How To Play The Pirc Defense Chess Opening - Hercules Chess Article

The Simplified Pirc - Kenilworth Chessclub Article

The Pirc Defense – The Ultimate Guide To A Dynamic Chess Opening - (In-depth ichess.com Article with 3 Embedded Videos )

Pirc Defense – How to Play (as White & Black) - Nice Opening Guide On Chessabale Blog.

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Interactive Pirc Defense Studies on Lichess

Master Key Lines: Sharpen your Pirc Defense with interactive studies on Lichess.

Pirc defense - 10 Chapter Study  (80 hearts)

The Pirc Defense - 6 Chapter Study  (Simple with info on Variations) (60 hearts)

Pirc Defense Repertoire - 6 Chapter Interactive Study  (400 hearts)

The Pirc Defense - 14 Chapter Study

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Sharpen Your Tactics: Pirc Defense Chess Puzzles

Isolate your weaknesses and refine your tactical vision with these puzzles categorized by specific Pirc Defense variations. Test your skills and identify winning opportunities in critical positions.

( WTHarvey.com) 

Pirc (B07) -1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6  (10 Puzzles)

Pirc, Classical (B08) - 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3   (10 Puzzles)

Pirc, Austrian Attack (B09) - 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4   (10 Puzzles)

LiChess Opening Puzzles

Pirc Defense - 11,879 Puzzles (Main)

Pirc Defense: Classical Variation - 2253 Puzzles
Pirc Defense: Austrian Attack - 866 Puzzles
Pirc Defense: Byrne Variation - 665 Puzzles
Pirc Defense: Kholmov System - 254 Puzzles
Pirc Defense: Roscher Gambit - 129 Puzzles
Pirc Defense: Bayonet Attack - 61 Puzzles

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Pirc Defense Games Databases

Analyze master games from various databases, categorized by variations like the Austrian Attack and the Classical Pirc. Learn from the greats and discover new ideas for your own games.

365chess.com

B07: Pirc defence 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 - 57,000 Games (Page with 11 Sub-varients)
B08: Pirc, classical (two knights) system 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 - 10,000 Games (4 Subvarients)
B09: Pirc, Austrian attack 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 - 10,000 Games ( 7 Sub-Varients)

Chessgames.com (Collections)

Instructive games of the Pirc Defense - 10 games 
Pirc/Modern-150 Attack-White wins - 21 Games
AUSTRIAN ATTACK  - 48 Games
Pirc with Black  - 27 Games

ChessTempo.com

Pirc Defense, General (B07) - 25,986 Games
Pirc Defense, 150 Attack (B07) - 1776 Games
Pirc Defense, Byrne Variation (B07) - 4491 Games
Pirc Defense, Classical Variation (B07) - 756 Games
Pirc Defense, Bayonet Attack (B07) - 

Pirc Defense, Classical Variation, Two Knights System (B08) - 5572Games
Pirc Defense, Classical Variation, Schlechter Variation (B08) - 4448 Games
Pirc Defense, Classical Variation, Quiet System (B08) - 3708 Games
Pirc Defense, Classical Variation, Quiet System, Chigorin Line (B08) - 1306 Games
Pirc Defense, Classical Variation, Quiet System, Czech Defense (B08) - 3956 Games
Pirc Defense, Classical Variation, Quiet System,Parma Defense (B08) - 2167 Games

Pirc Defense, Austrian Attack (B09) - 1530 Games
Pirc Defense, Austrian Attack, Dragon Formation (B09) - 3533 Games
Pirc Defense, Austrian Attack, Kurajica Variation (B09) - 1105 Games
Pirc Defense, Austrian Attack, Unzicker Attack (B09) - 1147 Games
Pirc Defense, Austrian Attack, Weiss Variation (B09) - 5592 Games

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Pirc Defense Video Lessons 

Enhance your learning with a curated selection of Pirc Defense video lessons. Find playlists catering to beginners and experienced players alike, covering opening ideas, middlegame plans, and typical tactical motifs.

Playlists

• Pirc Defense: my best opening for black - 74 Video Playlist - NM Ramirez  (Lessons and Games)
  
• Pirc Defense - 4 Video Playlist - IM Banzea
  
• Pirc Defense Opening Theory - 6 Video Playlist - Hanging Pawns (2Hrs)
  
• PIRC DEFENSE SERIES - 18 Video Series - Chess Giant

Pirc Defense | Ideas, Principles and Common Variations - 16 Min

PIRC Defense: Introduction, Middlegame Plans, Typical Tactics | Best Chess Openings - 26 Min - Middlegame plans, masters' games, and typical tactics for this Opening.

Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Pirc Defense! - 30 Min 

Opening Ideas: Pirc Defense - GM Yasser Seirawan - 58 Min - intermediate-level lecture about opening ideas and the Pirc Defense

Move order matters | Pirc Defense - Standard Chess - 17 Min

GM Ben Finegold: The Pirc Defense - 45 Min -  History of the opening, its namesake Vasiukov Pirc, and the evolution of hypermodern chess. Finegold discusses various move orders, transpositions, and the flexibility of the Pirc Defense, offering insights into famous games and strategies for both white and black.

GM Damien Lemos
Not about theory, but more about understanding the plans and ideas behind this opening. Understanding the main strategic ideas such as the different pawn breaks against White's center and various pawn sacrifices which help Black to take over the initiative.

• Best Chess Openings:  The Pirc Defense   [Part 1/3]  - 27 Min
• Opening Chess Strategy: The Pirc Defense [Part 2/3]  - 22 Min
• The Pirc Defence: Chess Openings For Black [Part 3/3]   - 22 Min
  

Austrian Attack (4.f4)

• Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Pirc Defense - Crushing the Austrian Attack! - 31 Min
  
  
• Beat the Austrian attack in the Pirc Defense! - 27 Min
  
  
• Main plans of the Austrian attack in the Pirc Defense - 22 Min
  
  
• PULVERIZE THE PIRC WITH THE AUSTRIAN ATTACK | IM Miodrag "The Butcher" Perunovic - 2Hr 20 min 
  
  
• How to Play Against a Passive Pirc Setup Using The Austrian Attack | Rapid Training Game - 16 Min GM Molton
  
  

Two Knights System (Classical) (4.Nf3)

The Complete Pirc Defense Opening | Classical Variation | Two Knights System and Quiet System - 31 Min

150 Attack (4.Be3)

• NEW SERIES! The 150 ATTACK! Destroy the Pirc or Modern Defense EASILY! - Part 1 - Ng4 lines - 32 Min
  
  
• The 150 Attack against the Modern or Pirc Defense - PART 2 - Early Nc6 lines - 25 Min

Czech Pirc

Chess Giant

• Chess Openings: Learn to Play the Czech Pirc Defense! - 21 Min
• Czech Pirc Defense Theory! Learn to Play the Varuzhan Akobian Trap! - 6 Min
• The Czech Pirc Defense is GOOD! - 10 Min
• Garry Kasparov LOSES to the Czech Pirc Defense!?!? - 12 Min

Palm Beach Chess

• Czech Pirc: Part 1 4 f3 and 4 Be3 - 23 Min
•  Czech Pirc Part 2 Austrian Mainline - 35 Min
• Czech Pirc Part 3 Austrian Sidelines - 48 Min
• Czech Pirc Part 4 Early Nf3 - 44 Min
• Pivot Openings with Czech Pirc - 8 Min (Game w/ NM Bryan Tillis)
• Czech System Chess Lesson (White's Perspective) - 7 Min (Game w/ NM Bryan Tillis)

Byrne Variation (4.Bg5)

• Chess Lesson # 96: Pirc Defense vs Byrne Variation as Black - 46 Min
  
  
• Byrne Variation | Pirc Defense Opening Theory - 23 Min

Pirc Defense Game Videos (w/Analysis)

Playlists

• Pirc Defence  -  37 Video Playlist  - Chess School  -  34 Games Expert Analysis
  
  
• Pirc Defense  - 21 Video Playlist  - agadmantor  (Famous Games)
  
  
• Pirc and Modern Defence - 113 Video Playlist  - kingscrusher

Paragua v Akobian | 2008 Chicago Open | Czech Pirc - GM Varuzhan Akobian - 58 Min
Ivanchuk vs. Kramnik, Candidates 2013 | Pirc Defense - GM Yasser Seirawan- 58 Min
Bobby Fischer faces Viktor Korchnoi in the Pirc Defence - World Chess Candidates 1962 - 18 Min
Pirc Defence | The Sensei Speedrun | GM Naroditsky - 17 Min

Magnus Carlsen Shows How to Play the Pirc Defense - 10 Min - GM Benjamin Bok