The opening 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 takes us straight into the [expected] Pirc. The Pirc is being analysed in another topic at the moment... but I'd like to take a look at something a little different.

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5

As far as I can tell, this opening has no name. What does that mean? It's not very well known, not commonly used, and not well analysed. However, this is a system highly recommended by GM Roman Dzindzichashvili, and following his encouragement, I took time to analyse it a little - mostly the exchange variation.

As all of you here are far better at chess than I, I thought I'd throw this one up and invite your analysis.

after 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5, White often chooses to take the pawn, exchange Queen's and leave Black uncastled and somewhat disadvantaged... or at least, that's the plan. GM Roman Dzindzichashvili concludes that this is equal or often better for Black. Black has good counter play and is able to suprise White (especially if White thinks he has the upperhand). Take a look:

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.pxp pxp 5.QxQ KxQ



As White, how would you play next?

Roman reccommends 6.Bc4
I often find that my opponent will play 6.Bg5 or 6.Nf3

I'm looking for your opinions here. I have a few lines prepared, and I'll post them later on, for now, see what you like/dislike about the above position. Actually, I've got my baby in my arms at the moment and I'm tired of typing with one hand! I'll post some lines/variations later on.

Right. I hate how the queens are gone. But white is doing well.

You don't have to worry much about moves at this point. Just sliding your pieces out and castling will do fine.

6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Bg5 Bg4 8. O-O-O+ Kc8 9. Bc4 Bc5...
Notice something about the position? Whatever is different between white and black is white's advantage. Then again, there are tonnes of moves and possible variations.

definatley an interesting opening, although i dont like this exchange variation, presuming because black offers this exchange to happen, the black player is comfortable with this line. but as white, i would not pick up the offer to go into this exchange variation and i would play 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3

Now, if black plays 4...exd4 5.Nxd4 Be7 6.Bf4 (Be2 also possible) 0-0 7.Qd2 and black has tried 7...c6 7...Nc6 and 7...d5.

black can also try developing the bishop on g7 rather than on e7 with 5...g6 but then white has 6.Be3 Bg7 7.Qd2 0-0 8.0-0-0 Nc6 9.f3 [Chernin - Zaichik, 1987] or 8...Re8 9.f3 a6 10.g4 b5 11.h4! and whites attacking!

This line involving 4.Nf3 insted of the exchange variation would better suit me in any case and you must remember that this move 4.Nf3 transposes the game more into a Philidor defense rather than a pirc right?! (similar tho) what do you guys think?

I would consider the line where white takes on e5 a Pirc and the line where white (more or less) forces black to take on d4 a Philidor. When encountering this sort of line of defense I'll try to transpose into the following:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Bg5 etc. The queen can actually stay in the center for a while. There is sort of a parallel line in the Sicilian (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Bg5 etc.) which I also play; in it e5 is a bad move, in the Philidor line with Qxd4 (favored by Tarrasch) c5 is a bad move. Eventually the queen relocates (d2 and d3 being the most logical places) behind the bishops that have moved out. There is a plan involving some serious pressure down the middle with a knight on d4, rooks on d1/e1 and a queen on the d-file. Or there is the possibility of rushing black's kingside with a bunch of pawns (assuming white 0-0-0) and pieces in support...

I really like the queen recapture.

I think that white should just develop normally. This is reminiscent of that old indian exchange line which I didn't mind for white which is supposed to be good for black but in this case it is even better for white because you don't have a pawn on c4 which blocks your light squared bishop and black has some problems to solve after 6. Nf3 Nc6 since he doesn't get the c7 refuge that he gets in that other line.

The problem with this line is that white can just play natural moves and you are struggling for equality. Any of the moves that you suggest seem good for white. White should probably castle queenside with tempo. There are no real weaknesses in white's position to compensate for your awkward king position.

Don't play these lines in Canada as black. You will get murdered since these lines are very popular due to the latent influence of Duncan Suttles.

Crash

Roman analyzed this variation too, and on move 7, he recommends Nc6 for black. With 7. .... Nc6, the game may continue, 8.o-o-o NxN 9.QxN Be6 with Black ready to pawnstorm down the Queen side. It's not looking bad for Black at all.