Chess Lesson # 97: Pirc Defense vs Fianchetto Variation as Black

[@NMRobertRamirez]

We finally have a strong and well organized opening course for White and one for Black. With these and the FREE beginner to master level playlist from this KZbin channel, it’s all about consistency over an extended period of time 😎💪 ⬇ Course on Black Opening (Counterblow) www.chessable.com/ramirez Course on White Opening (First Strike) www.chessable.com/firststrike Free Playlist (beginner to master level) rb.gy/hw61wt All the Endgame Knowledge I have rb.gy/zels9y All the Strategy Knowledge I have rb.gy/g1iqro

[@JohnS-il1dr]

I took lessons from a local IM rated 2445 and the lessons here far exceed the ones from my IM coach. Thank you for taking time to enrich the game to the public.

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Hey guys! Were you already using any of these plans against the fianchetto variation? Don't forget to ask me any questions you might have 😎💪

[@mokjpe6854]

on 11:17. what's happen if white take the knight with the bishop?

[@NMRobertRamirez]

@@mokjpe6854 hello! In that case, we have d5. If they do Nxd5, we take on e4 and if they do Bxd5, we take on e3 👍

[@jamilhugo762]

hey ramirez... thank you.. i made it from 1600 to 2073 by just using the viena for white and pirc defence for black. keep it up🍺!

[@NMRobertRamirez]

@@jamilhugo762 Congrats!! 👏💪 Thanks a lot for sharing your progress 🙌

[@sbusupes284]

Could you make a video of the lion's jaw variation

[@dougveganparadisebuilder5808]

Biggest lesson today is to find time to watch more of your older videos. In your game I found the N to h5 move so that is a positive. One tip for you is to repeat the positions that you want feedback on at the end of the lesson. As always thank you NM for your lesson, I am looking forward to the next one.

[@NMRobertRamirez]

You are welcome Doug! And thank you for the tip. It makes perfect sense 👍

[@Altus2001]

Position #1 - Press the attack with Knight to g3 bc the white Rook is trapped. If P X B, Kn x R. If Rook to f3, e5 to e4 attacking Rook, if p x p , pxp renewing attack on rook. And this would bring the F rook into the attack on white pawn on f4. White might take the Bishop with pawn, but then we take rook and win the exchange. I don't see a press for checkmate without eliminating some pieces and bringing more black pieces in for the attack. Position #2 - Plan is to first centralize the King and then try to create a passed pawn with the g5 or d5 pawn. More likely a passed pawn with the g pawn with the help of the h pawn, but if black's pawn on c3 moves, push our pawn to d4 to create one there. Plan at 17:59 - Knight to h5 attacking white hanging pawn on g3. If in response, g4, then kn x f4 at which point after B x Kn, I would think about bringing the other knight over to the kingside. (got move right, but missed white's kn to e2. So I missed the followup plans for white). Thank you for the reminder about lack of development while pressing for the attack (something I get caught doing a lot) and the plan to get to a winning endgame if attack fizzles out - which is something I need to incorporate more in my games. I tend to focus laser like on heavy pieces and checkmate all the time without even considering playing down to endgame pawns and I end up making a bad move and losing fast.

[@NMRobertRamirez]

It's great to see you sharing your thoughts in detail. Nicely done by the way 💪 You definitely have a good understating and ability to calculate. I specially like your response for position # 2. It might seem simple to you, but many people mess positions like this all the time.

[@philippides]

@7:00 what do you do if they take with the bishop?

[@lionelbowhunter468]

Fantastic lesson, Rob you are a great teacher! Greetings from France ^^

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Thank you Lionel! 👍😎

[@lionelbowhunter468]

@@NMRobertRamirez i filles you Rob, thx for your amazing content ( especially the Czech Pirzzzzz) ^^

[@mohanzade7455]

hi @@lionelbowhunter468

[@GarciaPics]

Maestro, exactly a month ago, based on your videos, I started studying and playing the Pirc as black (with the Vienna as white). I was rated 1080. Now I am sitting at 1274 and having a reasonably easy time at this level, with very real expectations to hit 1300 within a few days. I've watched your videos multiple times and at the beginning, made a mess out of the openings :) but slowly, it all begun to click and, yes, I have put in my time to study and practice, but I owe you much for being so charitable with your time and instructions. So, GRACIAS maestro!!

[@NMRobertRamirez]

It is a great pleasure, Carlos! Especially now that I see you have actually found these lessons useful. I appreciate your feedback and hope you continue to work hard and enjoy Chess! 💪

[@GarciaPics]

@@NMRobertRamirez Definitely! Thanks again and I am very glad to have your channel!

[@sivaprasad4377]

When I play chess I have a tendency and temptation to make movement without thinking. How can I overcome this temptation.

[@MaccoRoma]

Great lesson!

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Thank you, Marco! 🙌

[@josephroda7110]

Sir RobRam thanks for the fianchetto pirc variation for black I just won game using what you teach especially the idea what to move more power and GOD BLESS

[@filipslatkovsky1657]

I know I am late but what if at 11:16 the white pieces took our knight with bishop? Wouldnt we just lose it for free?

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Hello! I think d5 would get our material black 👍

[@dragadeyt]

At 17:47 I think a kingside attack because the pawns are pointing that way. Bg4 isn’t viable because of the h3 pawn. Then thought about the knights moving kingside and saw Nh5 attacks undefended g3 if it goes to g4 then Ng3 grabs a weak square and hits the rook. But seems it could get trapped there.

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Well, you definitely understand this type of positions. You are certainly moving in the right direction 💪

[@Charles-Windham]

At 17:50 I would consider Re8, Nd5 but not e5xf5 because that would help him develop his dark square bishop.

[@NMRobertRamirez]

That makes perfect sense since their king is in the center. Good job, Charles!

[@Fischer-random]

This lessons are wonderfull

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Thank you, Santiago! 👍💪

[@fadiljr2149]

Thanks those are lessons for me. Development of opening and a good Chess explanation.

[@archiewoosung5062]

#1. Divided between a: N-g3 or b. Nxe4 but think perhaps c. pxe4 is best. #2. B-d7. Hoping to exchange pieces in the hope that the extra pawn can be converted. Should say that I haven't been following your course from the beginning; been doing puzzles on Lichess for the past few months & can't remember how far I got with your videos before skipping a few to look at the Pirc relevant topics. Just chose this one to restart as it came up among those proposed. At 18mins; Q-e7

[@praseethar.pillai4406]

Hi sir , Do you remember me😊? In 6:42 if they now play Bxe4 , then what should we play? D5?

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Hello! Of course I do 👍 In that case, we would do Bxd4 or Nxd4 and if they do Bxd4, we continue with Bf5 since their bishop will be pinned 💪

[@praseethar.pillai4406]

@@NMRobertRamirez but if we play Bf5 after they play Bxe4 , they can take nxc6 and then take Bxf5 and after we take on d3 or f5 they are a piece up right?

[@NMRobertRamirez]

@@praseethar.pillai4406 notice that I put we could do Bxd4 or Nxd4. Only after, we would do Bf5.

[@praseethar.pillai4406]

@@NMRobertRamirez OK Thank you . Sorry for that , iam not that brilliant at notations. In 7:45 , it was just a mistake in telling right? Play Magnus Age 13 plays this variation against me😊. I think it is known as the sveshnikow system .

[@NMRobertRamirez]

@@praseethar.pillai4406 no problem at all. Glad to see you are asking questions! What do you mean about 7:45? By the way, Glad to see you are playing Magnus age 13. That one is already very challenging 👍

[@robertcooper1952]

Thanks for the excellent video, Robert

[@grim_blazer9120]

Would you ever consider a video on the reti as white?

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Absolutely! I am planning to provide you guys with everything you need to make it to master level and that includes lots of openings and games including the Reti. Especially the game where Reti defeated my friend Capablanca 😎

[@133anfas8]

@@NMRobertRamirez Thats what i'm also looking for, playing the pirc setup as white. You seem to have understood the concepts in it really well.

[@MiltonRivers-i3t]

Very interesting and not complicated 😊

[@Ebobster]

Excellent video. Thanks!

[@AntuanX1877]

How do you defend against doubled finchettoed bishops using the pirc defense

[@STUDIOGRAFICOPADOVA]

after Cc6 5:00 comes d5! what black can do?

[@leonardopires9648]

Thanks Robert for the video, looking forward to the modern opening. I started looking into it a few weeks back and it looks a nice pairing to the pirc

[@NMRobertRamirez]

You are welcome, Leonardo! I like it too. Kasparov has some nice games with it!

[@leonardopires9648]

@@NMRobertRamirez I'll try to find them!

[@davidbatchelder85]

Another home run, the hits just keep rolling. ya hooooooo

[@exuviumisopods]

What is the name of this opening with white? (the fianchetto variation, the first game in the video). PS: I always come back to the Pirc defense. For me it's the most stable opening with the black pieces. And I always come back to your playlists Robert, to refresh my knowledge. Thanks so much 🙏🏻

[@thefleetfarmer1815]

Could you explain how we know when to expand on the queenside rather than the kingside?

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Hello! Feel free to check out lessons # 88 and 91 💪 It is just more efficient that trying to write it in a comment 👍

[@vijyantmehrotra8119]

That is why I like your videos very much

[@abdelhamidmeriouma8248]

Hi coach i have questions what i should do against mad dog attk

[@marlontallayo2520]

thank you so much master Robert

[@NMRobertRamirez]

You are more than welcome, Marlon! 👍

[@itiller69]

Hi Teacher Robert, is it possible we transpose in sometime the nimzowitsch defence to pirc defence.

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Hello! It is not so common, but it could happen. You could at least get a similar position type. The Nimzowitsch defense is quite interesting and it could transpose into other openings such as the Scandinavian. Glad to see you are expanding your horizons 👍

[@itiller69]

@@NMRobertRamirez Thanks Teacher Robert . Im so glad you take some of your time to answer our questions

[@sibusisoharvey2652]

Loved this video!!!

[@alberthisug9435]

i need understanding playing kings indian defense when to push e5 or c5 the timing of Bknight development

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Hello Albert! Have you checked the playlist I put together with all the lessons on the King's Indian Defense?

[@Charles-Windham]

Not sure on the 1st. The 2nd I think I would work to move my King and h pawn up the board 2 against one.

[@NMRobertRamirez]

That's exactly what I wanted to see, Charles 💪 Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for all your support 👍

[@dragadeyt]

Have you considered making a Chessable course on your style of the Pirc and KID?

[@NMRobertRamirez]

I did not know I could do that, but I will certainly look into it. Thank you for bringing it up, Dhananjay! 👍

[@maxsyesumantri504]

Thankyou Master..

[@133anfas8]

Do you also play the pirc or kings indian setup as white? What opening do you play as white? I'd love to learn how to play pirc as white.

[@carlbinch898]

A burning question I have had for a long time Robert. Playing against kingside fianchetto Black/White e.g. I play the natural Bh6, Qd7 battery to swap off the fianchetto Bishop. However it takes time to set up. Is predictable. Is it a good strategy?. I never seem to get anything from it. Is there a good follow up.

[@faredmohsseni5028]

Do u have lichess study for everything for pirc and kings Indian colle etc coach

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Not really. Only for some of them at the moment.

[@aminekaabi7014]

Great lesson, as always ,what's your opening repertoire for white ?

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Thank you, Amine! Up to this point, we have covered the Vienna (lesson # 34) Four Knights-Scotch (lesson # 33), Ruy Lopez (lesson # 32), London (lesson # 58) Cole-Zukertort and the King's Indian Attack (lesson # 79). I play them all as well as other we will be covering soon.

[@kalavathir8850]

Thank you sir for great teaching...

[@NMRobertRamirez]

You are welcome, Kalavathi! Glad you liked this super long lesson! 😎

[@ravikumarkothamasu]

Well explained sir . Thanks to you.

[@daniellima2418]

Awesome!!! Thanks Master!

[@NMRobertRamirez]

You are welcome, Daniel! Glad you like this lesson! 👍

[@vijyantmehrotra8119]

Thanks dear

[@tmbhbnt8281]

First puzzle: Maybe Nxf4, we open the f-file for our pawn to keep pushing, and in the next move I might also capture either the bishop or the h3 pawn with the knight depending on how white reacts Second puzzle: h5, and then keep pushing two kingside pawns with help from the king and rook

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Thanks a lot for your feedback as usual 👍 I specially wanted to know how you felt about the second one, but I see you got that under control 💪

[@vijyantmehrotra8119]

Another good lesson

[@_GkT_]

e4 d6 d4 Nf6 Nc3 g6 g3 Bg7 Bg2 0-0 Ne2 e5 (if Nf3 then Bg4) : e5 dxe5 dxe5 : Bg4 Nd4 Nxd4 Qxd4 e5 0-0 : exd4 Nxd4 Nc6 Nxc6 bxc6 Bg5 h6 e5 d5 : KID setup

[@ablueraven8986]

awesome lesson!

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Thank you! Glad you liked it, Maciej! 👍

[@TimJapan]

Thx. First puzzle I didn’t get As I usually do tactical puzzles. The second I understood I needed to activate the king and push the majority. The puzzle mid game I just didn’t see but I kicked myself when you showed it. But it is Monday morning...

[@NMRobertRamirez]

😎 Happy Monday Timothy! Glad to see you got the second one under control. That was the most important one to me 👍

[@Charles-Windham]

I love have you focus us on paying attention on the endgame structure the game is moving to. It helps. Also, I am about (best I guess) 1350 and trying to learn as I can. When I hear the principle " develop ALL your pieces and towards the center (for best piece activity)" I assume that means when your opponent allows it (duh). Which led me to think "what is the best opening to do that?" I have been getting in trouble by waiting too long to open up the center (busy with other things like defending) with the Pirc although I am determined to learn it well (and KID) because I like it and see it has real potential. No real question here just musing out loud. :)

[@NMRobertRamirez]

All your feedback is appreciated, Charles! So, thank you for thinking out load 😎 Regarding that opening, have you checked lesson # 58 or # 34?

[@Charles-Windham]

@@NMRobertRamirez I’m sure I’ll go back over them along with others but I do know striking at the center is our goal and e5 is one of the main plan. Just caring that out during the game is challenging sometimes. 👍

[@NMRobertRamirez]

@@Charles-Windham you got it! These are openings as white that could make it easier to develop quickly and they offer interesting middlegame plans 👍

[@josefgross1493]

Awesome game

[@sbusupes284]

So I just played the Pirc and I was destroyed by the Lion's Jaw variation... Do you think you could make a video on that variation?

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Here is the link to lesson # 70. Let me know if this ideas help 👍 kzbin.info/www/bejne/goCUhZ6gmsSkrM0

[@sbusupes284]

@@NMRobertRamirez it's amazing!🔥 Thanks

[@mehdilolar286]

loooove ittt tthaak you so much !

[@noah_4066]

Hi NM Ramirez! Can you show us a fighting line for white against the french? I was thinking about learning the tarrasch variation

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Hello Noah! At this point in the course, we have already a good weapon against the French -the King's Indian Attack. I am listing below the lessons where we learned and expanded on it. Anyways, we will learn other lines to play against the French at tome point in the future 👍 - KIA (Bobby Fischer's way): kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5K7lWego9mIfJI - KIA (my way): kzbin.info/www/bejne/iobMgHqLdqmreKs - Playing the KIA vs Botez robot: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3vHeYt8YsR7rdk

[@breezeb8720]

When using the pirc as black sometimes I want to block in the F1 bishop with knight to E2. I know In your videos that you like to pin the opponents knight with Bishop to B5 and even exchanging. Is it ok to block development? Thoughts?

[@Centurion-yw5ky]

Second position, need to move king to stop pathway for his rook, so kg7 First one is trickier, need to move bishop is f2 or b6, not sure, perhaps depends whether trying to stop the rook on f1 moving forward , not sure or can move queen first to g3 and then bishop in following move

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Nicely done! I wish I had given Bb6 more thought!

[@Centurion-yw5ky]

@@NMRobertRamirez you won, I would not have got in that good position to be able to make the move!

[@carlbinch898]

1st Position Bb6. 2nd Kg7. 3rd was torn between Nh5 or exf, then Nh5? Would have played for the 2 pawns v 1. Not for me to criticise a GM but surprised by his f4 move?. Lots of good advice many thanks, Robert. A new plan for me a6 Rb8 etc. Instead of g3. If h3 would it be a similar set up.?.

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Hello Carl! Glad you got some value from this one 👍 By the way, what do you mean about h3 instead of g3 exactly? If h3 is played without g3, it would be like the classical, right?

[@carlbinch898]

Although rare Robert. I have played against e4 d6, d4 Nf6, Nc3 g6, h3. Also on move 5 instead of g3. White has played h3, maybe trying to confuse me with the classical move order. Thanks for your time.

[@breezeb8720]

#1: Q to G3? #2 R E1?

[@lubomirnovotny9653]

The video is basically all about 7.DxE5. What if white choose 7.D5? Is future break on F5 good idea for black in this closed position?

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Hello Lubomîr! I totally understand you have this question if you are new to the channel and have not been following this course. If you have time, take a look at the lessons I am listing below where we covered what to do when we get such closed positions from the Pirc, King's Indian Defense and other openings. I put it exactly to the part where I mentioned the plan you asked about, but feel free to watch the entire lessons. Hope it helps 😎 Pirc vs Classical (when they close the center with d5): kzbin.info/www/bejne/pna0lXaNrK1gj7c King's Indian Defense vs Classical (when they close the center with d5): kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHTQpHucp8h1eMU Middlegame lesson: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eH2VY4d6npZmsK8

[@lubomirnovotny9653]

@@NMRobertRamirez THX, your lessons are great!

[@darfboony824]

Rook e8 at 17:25. I dont know it seems natural to me to make that move.

[@NMRobertRamirez]

It makes sense, especially since their king is on the e-file 👍 Thank you for sharing your thoughts by the way 🙌

[@aributterfield3952]

xf4 for the mid position

[@terrodactyle9498]

At the position where you put the bishop on f2 and the queen goes om e2. Aint the knight can fork the queen and rook on g3

[@natigreenberg9388]

First position I would play Bb6 or Bf2.

[@gogokito6747]

thank you for these enjoyable lessons , I took your advice and statted playing by pirc as my opening , but what I have observed is that most of the beginning of the game is at my zone , and that is not comfortable , you response for the white moves most of the time , and also you give the white a lot of targets , like the knight at f6 or the pawn b7 . can I make this opening more open or more aggressive ?

[@NMRobertRamirez]

You are more than welcome! And I see what you mean, but it is just a matter of understanding what your plans are and how to deal with the different threats White could create. These modern and hyper-modern openings allow White to take control so that we can counter-attack their nice positions. It is not for everyone, but it could be fun especially since many people as White are not familiar with it. So, we basically bring them into our territory which we know better than they do 😎

[@gogokito6747]

thank you for your quick reply , hope to see more of your lessons :)

[@BenRook]

11:20 in the vid - if bxe4 instead of nxe4, you just lost a knight for a gain of a pawn. That can't be good.

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Hello Ben! In that case, you still have d5 and you get the piece back. If Nxd5, their e4 bishop is hanging and if Bxd5, their e3 bishop is hanging 👍

[@BenRook]

@@NMRobertRamirez Ok, I see what you're saying...I get the material back. I will study the position more to understand how play proceeds if f4 is push. Thanks for responding so quickly! Kudos to you for being so methodical in presenting chess instruction in such an enjoyable and educational fashion. PS. Like you, Capablanca is my favorite world champion.

[@dragadeyt]

For #2 I was thinking Kingside to get the h,g pawns connected and try to promote. Maybe Re4 to prevent h4 and then Rh4 and next g4 because the h3 pawn is pinned.

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Hello Dhananjay! As long as you know to try to capitalize on the 2 vs 1 pawn majority, we are fine 💪

[@h4ter323]

I watched your tutorials for like 2 weeks then i stopped, but i really love chess and i wanna be good at it so im back to watch more tutorials, how much time do i need to be a good chess player? Btw this is the best course i could find on youtube, thank you!!

[@fatfingersstudios2714]

the piris? the piriq? the perk? the pierce? which 1 is the pronounce

[@vijyantmehrotra8119]

Your English is also fluent and easy to understand

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Thank you! 😎👍

[@faredmohsseni5028]

One thing I have NO IDEA WHAT TO DO IS WHAT IF BISHOP PINS THE KNIGHT ON c6 and takes and u have double pawns so CONFUSING

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Do you mean in this fianchetto variation? 🤔

[@faredmohsseni5028]

@@NMRobertRamirez any

[@NMRobertRamirez]

@@faredmohsseni5028 mmm have you tried Bd7 when they do Bb5?

[@jameshouzvicka6631]

I tried your system as white vs a master player it( the system) did not work vs ...d5...c6...g6...bg7...o-o

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Hello James! Do you mean vs d4-c3-g3-Bg2? If that's the case, it would be more like what we covered in lesson # 89 👍

[@dragadeyt]

For #1 I didn’t find anything convincing but saw that cxd4 would lose the bishop so maybe a check to stop that but Bg1+ didn’t seem to work. Then I saw Qg6+ forces Kh8 and Nxf5 wins the pawn. Couldn’t find a checkmate.

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Thank you, Dhananjay! I really appreciate you shared your thoughts 💪

[@vishy8909]

Son muy instructivas las lecciones,la única critica es que haces demasiadas interrupciones y se hace poco dinamica,pero de todas formas es muy interesante y gracias

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Hola Carlos! Me alegra que encuentre las clases instructivas y por su puesto, muchas gracias por la critica constructiva. Me imagino que se refiere a las fotos sobre otras clases o las repeticiones. La verdad es que creo que son necesarias para que las personas practiquen o sepan donde pueden encontrar algún material que hayamos cubierto en el pasado. Para algunas personas que no lo necesitan resulta incomodo pero prefiero que algunos de ustedes se incomoden unos segundos en lugar de que otros se queden sin entender algo. Espero que entienda y por favor no deje de decirme que mas se puede mejorar. Estoy seguro de que hay muchos problemas y basado en recomendaciones como la suya he ido cambiando muchas cosas. Saludos 👍

[@jeffreyblackwell1444]

I think probably white is better, King is slightly developed and using black squares

[@robloy1842]

Fun fact, im learning : ]

[@aributterfield3952]

#1 Bf2 maybe? #2 Black is better, I would bring my King to g6

[@vijyantmehrotra8119]

Love from INDIA

[@oluwaseyiadeniji6529]

e5×f4, ka5

[@oluwaseyiadeniji6529]

Knight a5, better move

[@oluwaseyiadeniji6529]

Meant Knight h5 not a5

[@regilaninan6450]

I will play nd4

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Excellent! Thanks for sharing your feedback! 💪

[@kenjoszyoutube4793]

Your plan didinot work as my opponent doesnot castle and keep pushing all the porn towrads my king side so i couldnot figure out what i learn here.

[@NMRobertRamirez]

Hello! Feel free to share your game to see what went wrong 👍

[@kenjoszyoutube4793]

@@NMRobertRamirez where to share??

[@NMRobertRamirez]

@@kenjoszyoutube4793 here is fine. You can share PGN or link 👍

[@karanarora1468]

👌👍👍

[@chittiveerayya857]

Re8

[@chittiveerayya857]

ohhhhhhhh

[@chittiveerayya857]

I am a kid

[@mangeshp11]

You are repiting to extend the video time. Nothing is new. Just wastage of time.

[@vijyantmehrotra8119]

Love from INDIA