Here are the moves I played in a game of me vs. myself (playing the Pirc as Black) and (against the Pirc, as White).... Please help me better understand my mistakes as Black, and the opening, I obviously cant get into a good middle game position out of it (against myself). Thanks in advance! Personally, I feel that the key position is after my questionable move #6.



1. e4 d6
2. Nc3 g6
3. Bc4 c6
4. Nf3 Bg7
5. 0-0 b5
6. Bb3 Na6
7. d4 Nf6
8. e5 Nd7
9. exd6 e6
10. Bg5 Nf6
11. Ne4 h6
12. Bxf6 Bxf6
13. Nxf6+ Qxf6
14. Ne5 Bd7
15. a4 b4
16. a5 Rd8
17. Ba4 Nb8
18. Qd2 Resigns
1-0.

Note: I tried to play it (the best i could on both sides), so if you see any blunders, please let me know.

Also, there is a reason why i delayed castleing as Black.... that is because i wanted to develop my knight on f6 after d4 had been played, instead of allowing white to play d3, permantaly protecting e4. I think it turns out that this variation is worse for me! (not sure) I also considered the move e5, but after white plays d4 (opening up the position for under-developed black), that is not good for him (me). On move #6, I played Na6 to either A) force d4, so i could develop the knight on f6 with the plan of pushing pawn b4 (removing the defender) and winning the pawn. or B) Forcing d3, so that Nc5 is a good square for my knight, potientially removing the white Bishop from attacking my pawn at f7. My question is: What is wrong with this idea? And what is a better idea???

Well,

I've occasionally tried the pirc. But if I remember right, placing the knight to a6 isn't a good idea, because the pirc is an opening that 1) allows white to set up a large pawn center, and 2) attack it with all you've got, by playing c5, or e5. Also, pinning the f3 knight is common also, to challenge white on the dark squares, particularly on d4. Maybe I'm mixing this up with something else, so let me know if this is O.K., so I don't goof up later.

John.

The problem with pinning the f3 knight immediately is Bxf7+! followed by Ng5 and Qxg4 (essientially winning a pawn for exchanging the Bishops) And the misplaced, uncastleable, King isnt good for Black, as well. As far as c5 and e5 (e5 is considered more), but then white plays d4! and opens the position up (Black = under-developed) and c5 is a wasted move here (why not just play the Sicilian) instead that would be better.

This game is, for starters, a great reason of why you shouldn't play the Pirc unless you're fairly strong. Most of black's moves look reasonable, but as early as move 6 he's substantially worse.

Look at the position at white's 9th move. He's developed three pieces and castled, and has a space advantage. Black has also developed three pieces, but his KN has been driven to a poor square and his QN went to one voluntarily. For the record, I don't feel like white's played particularly well here but it still shouldn't be a surprise that white has a crushing move here:

9.Ng5!

9. ... 0-0 (let's look at the most logical response first) 10.Nxf7! Rxf7 11.e6 wins easily.

9. ... e6 (trying to blunt the effect of the bishop) 10.Nxb5 cxb5 11.Qf3 0-0 12.Qxa8

White's play is really rather timid here. His ninth move is bad (it gives up the center for no reason) and you miss some tactics on your 10th:

10.d5! cd 11.Nxd5! ed 12.Re1+ is crushing (because black either gives back the material with interest on e5 or faces Qxd5, with double attack on a8 and f7.) You should always be looking for ways to open the central files aiming at the black king when you're ahead in development and he hasn't castled.

Instead of critisizing the Pirc or the player of the Pirc in this position, lets look at a better plan for a development scheme for him, lets critisize the position and look for improvements, (his moves look reasonable, you are right), but they need to be better than reasonable -- they need to be good against this white strategy. Let's say you know white is going to open up like this (generally), then what is Black's Best Responce? Note: I did miss some tactics, but when you are in a "winning position" there are usually many ways to win it!

But here's the problem, Dustin:

We could point out the mistakes you made as black in this game, and then you'd just make new ones - because black's position in the pirc is already borderline. Any time you concede this sort of position to white you're putting yourself on a knife-edge.

The truth is I don't know the Pirc that well from black's point of view, because I tend to have really good results against it.

That being said, black's queenside expansion here is a complete violation of opening principles, and he could do better by playing 1.... d6 2. ... Nf6, 3. ... g6 and 4. Bg7 against almost anything where those moves don't lose material.

Heck, most of the time 5. ... 0-0 is fine, althogh at that point you might consider hitting back at the center with ...c5, depending on how white has developed.

But you're still going to find yourself in a position where white has attacking chances, and if you're missing simple attacking tactics (like Ng5xf7) then you're going to lose a lot of games if you give your opponent a development and space advantage so easily. "Counterattacking" only works if you can defend against his attack first.

As I recall _c6, _b5 and _Na6 are all normal moves in the pirc, but when you ask if you should be pushing for a presence in the center with _c5 or _e5 now, than what were the other moves for? playing reasonable looking developing moves and scratching your head and saying: oh lets see where I stand, I remember i'm supposed to challenge the center here...isn't enough. EVERY one of your moves should have a purpose, always try to improve your position. You don't have to have a good plan but make sure you do have one, whatever it is. From the beginning you should have benn trying to coordinate your pieces so at to acheive a pawn break and keep an eye on the center. Playing on the sides does not mean you don't have any interest in the centre it just means that you have to fight for it differently and you have to fight for it harder. Don't flit from one plan to another or play meaningless moves, play pertinant moves that fit in to a plan and fight for the centre from the very begining no matter what opening you are playing. To be fair I don't play the pirc too well and I would like to learn. I think that this is a very good thread and I will try later to post something that is actually hepfull . I'll look into some main pirc plans and try to discuss them, good luck with this opening. I'll try to write something more positive and helpfull next time.