Best Chess Opening Against 1.e4 & 1.d4 [TRAPS Included]

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In this video lesson, GM Igor Smirnov shares with you a simple, effective, and universal chess opening for Black against 1.e4 and 1.d4. Yes, this opening system works for both of the most common first moves from White.
It happens in the Czech Defense from the Pirc Defense which happens after the following moves: 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6. But this is not just Pirc Defense - this is an opening system, so you can play the same setup irrespective of what White plays.
This setup is so powerful that White is often clueless after the opening moves as their pieces are stuck and are really passive. On the other hand, Black has a solid position with great attacking plans!
▬▬▬▬▬▬
► Chapters
00:00 Best Chess Opening against 1.e4
00:25 Pirc Defense: Czech Defense
03:03 Solid setup for Black
04:31 No clear plan for White
08:18 Line-2: White plays 4.f4
10:10 Beware of this forcing line
12:47 White rook is trapped
15:01 Same setup against 1.d4
16:39 If White blocks the center
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#GMSmirnov #ChessOpenings #PircDefense

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

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[@bizmail1002]

NM Robert Ramirez popularised this opening: Czech Pirc. He has a full series of videos on the Czech Pirc.

[@brandonemmett4708]

Thanks for the tips Igor! I tried this system against both e4 and d4 tonight at chess club and absolutely rocked my opponent.

[@chilakashalemraju3668]

It's like Czec Pirc Defence. Really very very instructive and useful. Thanks a lot.

[@sanjaybisht332]

the cat in the background is showing her own skills..😅😅

[@brendafain9962]

That is hilarious. Love it. 😂😂

[@rajdattabhagat3610]

Very funny

[@user-xx2br5bz5r]

I was looking for some solid openings for black and then I saw this, before watching this video I play the pirc main line and the czech pirc I thought that this opening was too passive, so I didn't play it a lot, but this video made me realize that the pirc can also be very attacking! thank you, GM Smirnov

[@SuperSuperCriddler]

Thanks, Igor. Good to see you and your cat again, and to add another interesting system to the armoury!

[@harrisonedokpayi3647]

Great one and thanks for sharing. I will definitely try this. One of your lessons that has made me crush many opponents is the Bishops opening. Boy, makes me feel like a pro whereas my actual Bliz rating is just 1300. I was rated 1200 until I watched the Bishops opening which made me win many games! Once again, thank you!

[@ravivarma239]

Great, so helpful. Thanks a lot Egor

[@Axiomatic75]

I play this opening (the Czech Pirc) a lot with black. NM Robert Ramirez has a few great videos on it as well.

[@andrewucla]

I came here to say exactly this

[@carlsolo515]

Love you system approach Igor. Less moves to memorize. Thanks.

[@skiperaka1429]

Good video Igor! Always helpful.

[@FelixRigg]

We love the cat, of course! But this is also a really interesting and enjoyable lesson: thank you. 🙂

[@jamalchess9681]

Thank you so much Igor for this interesting system I think it's possible to play with this system as white as well

[@jeradjones9528]

Tuning into Grandmaster Igor has no doubt helped me become a better player .

[@johnsuplicki]

Gm, I'm a somewhat experienced, somewhat advanced novice. These videos are perfect for me! Thanks so much! I'd have to think we're the biggest audience you could tap into, so keep these rolling. Will def check out the masterclass when it's time!

[@timbabcox6581]

This is just the lesson I needed.

[@DDigitalDreamer]

Great video. Never played the Pirc. I like this system for black.

[@daminion6730]

Wow, this is a really good lesson

[@Buswik]

I found that with my low rating pirc or KID works very well as it results in me having a pretty solid position. It's not practical to memorize a lot of responses to specific moves since 400 rated players often do pretty unpredictable moves with white pieces.

[@SamAffandy]

Love the Pirc!

[@garthharrison5815]

Will definitely put more time into studying this opening

[@zeus1141]

At the beginning I was to say the least... dubious about this type of play. So I did what any hesitant player would do. I went and used it online a lot. I had some crazy games and gave me lots of chuckles. I also did found moves that ruin the plan completely but at that point... chess is played. Not bad at all. Thank you!

[@cwesley2005]

Igor Smirnoff is the man!

[@sasanghaffari9424]

great! Thanks!

[@johnmercer7377]

Really helpful

[@somevino1048]

Excellent excellent video!

[@ramilparedes9930]

Very informative

[@burhanyucel3217]

dude, after watching your videos . I paly like chessmaster. I mean, your advices are really deadly. I sacrifice pawns even bischop or knight but neverthless, I win the game. Thanks man.

[@thejas3302]

Ur great keep going

[@lindalarracas606]

2:06 8:19 line2 white plays 4.f4 9:25 if instead of Bd3 white pushes his pawn forward to e5..?

[@gokselkabaroglusatranc3402]

Thanks 👍 👍 👍 👍

[@marcusminifee3978]

Thank you Igor....what opening for black do you like better and think is more effective.....Rousseau Gambit or Czech Pirc Defense?

[@neilvsalmon6105]

There has been books written on this Czech Pirc , one notably by IM Lakdawala . I remember facing this against IM Orlov more than once and getting outplayed each time , this defense is underated for sure .

[@nabilkha5647]

Merci

[@maxpenner9907]

Thank. You

[@carolinejoybarnhart3717]

If white recognizes this soon enough. QF3 instead of the knight to defend the pawn starts to break the pattern. Hardly unrecoverable but subsequent moves may be suboptimal unless you switch to early queen tactics.

[@fadiahmed1601]

Amazing😍

[@user-wo2us9nm3l]

Wow, I recently subscribed, and watched this video...Were you studying my games? This has been my opening for black that I developed a while back..Great over view. One of the traps that I have in this is a variation where I get a scholar's mate from white blundering trying to protect a pawn.

[@IvanKoutzarov]

@ 2:10 - what if white responds with BE7? The computer played actually this move against me, I tried to continue as given here, but it defended quite well.

[@clintongryke6887]

Hooray! The cat is back!

[@almirnerijr]

The most common solution for white that was not adressed in this explantion after 4... Qa5 is 5. Bd2. If the black knight capture e4, the white knight is allowed to capture it back and at the same time the bishop attacks the Queen. In this video we have to pray for the blunder 5. Bd3. This trap is not practical.

[@dextersalon5329]

that's not a problem mate if i play Qa5 then you Play Bd2 i will just move Qc7 just going back ang still keeping to my e5 pawn

[@fugglesme4186]

You keep showing white playing Bd3 before Bd2. The move order should be after black plays Qa5 then white plays Bd2 and wins a tempo as black has to retreat.

[@JimBobDewayne]

I never see white play Bd3 to defend Qa5. It's always Bd2 immediately.

[@lesterchua2677]

I really wonder if this guy is a real GM. He puts so many videos with clickbait titles and a spurious line that it makes me doubt the teaching value. Basically he sets up strawman moves from the opposition that it seems like he’s assuming he’s playing against 1200 and below.

[@ianallen738]

Lol check out his website, it's even worse. Pure 90's scam.

[@PunkPiggie]

Exactly! Bd2 is almost every time the next move...and then this whole video goes out of the window. You immediately have to retreat the queen back wasting one(infact two) important move to develop in early game.

[@gregwallace6159]

@@lesterchua2677 Jealousy 🤣

[@jayfunk13]

After Bd2 it's actually not necessary to retreat the queen right away you can play Bishop to G4 or Knight to D7 and welcome the "trap" of Nd5 as it is easily solved by moving back to D8. since the knight is on a bad square he is forced to move and it's either retreat or to trade off is Knight for yours

[@muneebkarim3654]

What to play after 1.e4d6 2.d4Nf3 3.Nc3c6 4.e5

[@ilyaibrahimovic9842]

Why would you trade knight for bad bishop in a closed position with little potential for the center to open?

[@Daniel-G-P]

I love the Czech defence! Great video. I know it would be a bit passive, but does anyone play it reversed? Play it as white? Opening with d3. If so, how do you find it and do you have any tips? Thanks so much.

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

► Chapters 00:00 Best Chess Opening against 1.e4 00:25 Pirc Defense: Czech Defense 03:03 Solid setup for Black 04:31 No clear plan for White 08:18 Line-2: White plays 4.f4 10:10 Beware of this forcing line 12:47 White rook is trapped 15:01 Same setup against 1.d4 16:39 If White blocks the center

[@TyRobinson-xi1og]

What is best move if White does something crazy like 3. E5 threatening the knight and Pawn? Also 3.N G4 seems to be problematic for me at times. Other than that this is my favorite Black opening

[@shreyash3146]

Explain something against catalan

[@dimplemehta8492]

What to do if white plays Bg2 after we play the move Qa5 Sir please reply

[@JoseLuis-wj3vc]

I love the cat in the background :)

[@SLKCHESS]

Nice video

[@theoldworldwasbetter]

in the opening, when you play Qa5, most opponents will play Bd2 threatening your queen. You say just move it back to safety, but then you’ll have moved the same piece twice and gave your opponent an extra move to develop. How is that correct? shouldn’t we consider Qc7 right away then?

[@thehypnotist9750]

I believe the idea is that you provoked your opponent to develop their bishop to a passive square. If you go queen c7 immediately your queen is in the same place while your opponent may develop their bishop to a much more active square

[@renatoarnese8958]

I was struggling to learn some aggressive variations with black, and started losing very badly. I guess at my (low) level, a solid opening is better than a flashy one. And I have to say, this opening has been a blast the last days. Very solid, I mostly end up winning with a good position and on time, because the opponent is simply crushed and have no more moves to do, while I have multiple to choose from. Many thanks!

[@raydaugherty4789]

You deserve better closed captioning to go with your great chess ideas

[@Chitaune]

Hi igor can you make a opening playlist for white like black

[@Aramalisadventures]

On line with 4.f4 Qa5 5.Qf3!! This is the best reply to black’s Qa5 move and all black’s plans fall now. You should prepare how black should continue if 5.Qf5!!

[@bentheo69]

Thanks! beautiful. You seems like a nice nan and i have share your content🤘

[@asimbiswas1184]

Nice

[@denzilbrown4388]

after c6 my opponent played e5, do you have a line for that, didnt see it in this video

[@mrses1987]

Love your Cat!!!!!

[@user-td1vx2zo9z]

What if they go e5 in the beginning? And attack your night before you move out your queen?

[@marcoanello891]

Sometimes in such positions, White's knight maneuver Nf3-Nh4-Nf5 can be problematic. How should Black deal with this idea?

[@imtiyazhirani2308]

black needs to play, bf8 followed by g6 to kick the knight. Transpose into normal pirc structure. The knight at Ng3 has no good square when g6 is played.

[@yasinsheriff1425]

Great opening for black, won most of the games

[@evandrosimoes883]

Hi GM Igor, I like so this opening idea, but I tried to play then two times and after Da5, whites plays f4. What is the best response for that? Maybe e5?

[@enriquetovar9629]

If you meant Qa5, you only play that move if you can pin the knight. Otherwise, they defend it easily and you’re forced to retreat.

[@virtualmaddy4641]

Black bishop

[@pawekowalik126]

Interesting, but that way has one drawback - if somebody play 1.e4 he/she rather prefer sharp game, so he/she would rather play 8.Qe2 (instead of 8. 0-0) and next 9.0-0-0 and what to play is very easy to white and black - both oponents will atack on oponent's king. Whose attack will be faster that player win. That's why I don't play Pirck Defense playing black against 1.e4. I prefer 1...c6 or 1...e5 1...d5.

[@chillegaming1837]

This is kind of a mixture if the Pirc defense and the Scandinavian defense

[@user-wo2us9nm3l]

To my previous comment, I have seen most players defend the pawn exchange on d5 with Bf4, this is the mistake, it leaves b2 undefended Qb6 attacks the pawn, blocks castling AND threatens mate....I have got that mate more times than I should. I almost feel guilty

[@zeljkomatic5986]

Great opening for black,(Chech Pirc)but 4.f4 is critical.White has just better always.This is the problem.

[@alexselvanathan]

Has any of your games got featured in agadmator channel

[@stevensutton2252]

(wanted to say stay safe) and also ask because i play on lichess. who teaching to trade bishop for rook on f1 f8? i find this trade so bad is their actually a line where it works. because i dont think there is. if you need examples i can give them from 1800 and 1900 lol i would venture a quest because teach from india or or eastern russian time zone and they speak english

[@MR__MAD__MAX]

Wow

[@rolandeauten8798]

That’s so cool, thanks Igor! Or at least that’s how I think your name is spelt, but I see one comment here uses “Egor”. What is correct please? Thanks again sir, and best wishes 🌞

[@aluminiumknight4038]

In the description it's Igor

[@banzaiburger9589]

Another possibility in these lines is the English Rat, also decent for Black

[@WarDaddy2023]

Hi Igor. I am having trouble accessing your web site with your courses I purchased. Ideas?

[@GMIgorSmirnov]

We are having some temporary server issues. It will be fixed soon. Please contact our support at [e-mail] if you need download links for the purchased products.

[@jeraldmcgowin4162]

Very similar to NM Ramariz chess on youtube.

[@sharpvidtube]

Yes, the Czech Pirc, watched that a while ago, learned how to mess it up quite quickly😂 kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaCrmKKnm9ibbrM

[@alanwang5060]

When the rook moved to f1, pawn to g5 traps it as well

[@zulkhairsyams1050]

how if black move Bg4 before castle ?!

[@yakisavir9828]

Can you share an explanatory video, how will black play if after Qa5, white will play Bd2?

[@phillipbroughton3086]

Yes exactly, that’s what I’ve just asked

[@ianstonemanironhand]

Can this defence be played against any White opening?

[@darrylkassle361]

Where did GM Smirnoff learn such fluent accentless english.Did he spend time in English speaking countries in his youth or something. I am a native English speaker and I am amazed that he speaks absolutely perfectly without an accent. Most east European grandmaster have decent passable English but his is practically native level.

[@ianallen738]

He has a monstrous slavic accent.

[@VimMitt]

I notice with this black opening, queen side knight and bishop are not advanced compare to white.

[@Zyrexia]

GMSmirnov, more like Super Grandmaster Cat

[@vuca11300]

what if he defend knight with bishop right away?

[@phillipbroughton3086]

What about after Qa5 they play Bd2 to break the pin? You retreat the queen to c7 to avoid the discovered attack and then they push e5 before you’ve had the chance to play e5?

[@roqsteady5290]

Well... basically you are a bit screwed there 🤠

[@trailerpark948]

3rd .most common move is e4_e5?

[@joseangel1119]

I got these position in a real.match and 7 steps in I forgot what comes next in a 1 minute match lol but I was still in strong position i just forgot what to do next to win it was funny I had to just play basic chess from there

[@mensaman55]

all good well and fine......but...what if white plays pawn to D5...where is that? Is there some way you can make my opponents play the white moves? because they never do.

[@phillipbroughton3086]

That’s what I’ve found. They can make some random move you’ve never seen and then all your theory goes out the window

[@rajatkubade3235]

What if white castle instead of taking the pawn

[@borisdamke6703]

What about 5.Bd2?

[@daleproctor3723]

White pushing e5 attacking the f6 knight doesn’t look like it leads to a comfortable position for black.

[@vincentcausey8498]

What happens if white advances the pawn to e5 before black can play e5? You didn't mention that.

[@tehdoors]

Exactly my question

[@sam.abadyah]

What if your opponent plays bd2 as soon as you play queen a5 ? It happens to me all the time

[@amitshah9815]

It gets nasty for black after Qa5 by black then white plays bd2

[@regjones6071]

Hi Igor I saw this opening a few months ago (is it the called the Czech variation of the Pirc?) but I had very little success with it! In my experience after Qa5 White ALWAYS plays Bd2 and Black doesn't seem to do so well after that. Please can you show some plans for Black against that White set up?

[@johnnycakeslim]

I agree, this set up only works if white doesn't move the dark bishop but that never seems to be the case and I retreat my queen and then what??

[@Fidelis014]

Agree, they always move the dark square bishop!

[@seanreynolds7482]

I tried this variation for a few days and seem to have the same problem. Came back to watch the second half thinking he would explain that. But nope

[@samain1804]

Seems like Black loses a tempi after Bd2 and Qc7

[@jean-christophebiscarrat3173]

nice cat in the bagground ;-)

[@rebeltvr6046]

I find this white opening works very well against players better than you if you get super agro.

[@pairy5420]

what if they play e5 after nf6

[@AAa-xu8tb]

1:33