English Chess Forum

Hi. Why is the Pirc defence played less often at the top level?

Perhaps they do not think it is very good?

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 10, 2019 8:21 am

Perhaps they do not think it is very good?

Is the premise even true? There have been loads of recent examples, eg Giri - Nepo from this year's event at Wijk ( Black won ).

soheil_hooshdaran wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 10, 2019 4:51 am

Why is the Pirc defence played less often at the top level?

They seem to prefer to meet 1. e4 with 1. .. e5 and then play the Berlin or explore slow variations of the Italian.

The Pirc is now a minority choice at every level. It's difficult to employ it as an occasional weapon because of the need to know stuff in order not to be blown away by the 150 Attack.

Roger de Coverly wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 10, 2019 10:56 am

They seem to prefer to meet 1. e4 with 1. .. e5 and then play the Berlin or explore slow variations of the Italian.

Sure, we all know that 1...e5 is currently viewed as Black's most secure way to head for a draw after 1.e4. For those slightly less risk averse, the Pirc is one of many reasonably viable alternatives.

Re the 150 attack, I don't normally learn much from the openings played by the top guys, because they start off with such ridiculously greater knowledge than I have. However, I did find the Nepo game which I mentioned instructive. Obviously improvements for White must exist, but the point is that Black just played and it turned out well.

https://www.chessbomb.com/arena/2019-ta ... chtchi_Ian

I'm not saying it's no good. Many years ago, my coach commented that I was playing the Benko Gambit and asked if it were a good idea. I said my results were OK, and he said, "How many GMs play it?" "Er, not many - Lev Alburt, er…." His point was that the top players didn't trust it, so perhaps I should think again. My point was that it offered practical chances at my undistinguished level. But then everybody learnt how to beat it, so I gave it up!

Someone has been brave enough to play the Pirc against me in a CC game, so who knows?

There is a trainer in my city, who and whose students all play the Pirc! I lost to him at this weekender's rapid

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Sun Mar 10, 2019 1:17 pm

His point was that the top players didn't trust it, so perhaps I should think again.

I'd say that's the point at which it's time to look a new coach.

"I'd say that's the point at which it's time to look a new coach."

It was only a friendly suggestion - his suggested defence to 1.e4 was much better than what I did and suited me well. Mind you, he is renowned for his expertise on openings.

Whilst Pirc is not played often at the top level, black is OK! at the level of those replying to this thread.
I use it about twenty percent as opposed to eighty percent for the Sicilian. Sometimes I forget who I want to avoid playing it against.
And I have lots more gaps in why I play certain openings than I used to have.

The 150 Attack is not as popular at my level than it was. I seem to get all sorts of sidelines.

Anyway enjoy opening, middlegame & endgame of all openings you play & play against.

Even Kasparov played the Pirc, & it is great to play against students where their coaches have favourite openings.

I know a couple of the strongest players in Lancashire play the Pirc.
Against the Pirc, I would personally recommend playing the Austrian Attack.
The Austrian Attack was Bobby Fischer's favourite choice against the Pirc.