Learn to Play the Czech Pirc Defense… as Played by Vladimir Kramnik!

[@TheChessGiant]

PLUG IN "2024" (before 2025) TO GET 30% OFF CZECH PIRC DEFENSE COURSE!!!! thechessgiant.gumroad.com/l/czechpircdefensecourse

[@julienC-q8j]

Hello Solomon, I am beginner in this game and I just discovered your channel. It’s absolutely what I was looking for. I didn’t know what to play when I had the black pieces. Thanks to you, I can start building a solid repertoire for blacks, not mentionning the tactical skills this defense provides. I am very interested in a course about the Czech Pirc defense examining all first moves by whites, e4 and d4, of course, but also the uncommon ones. For example 1. Knight c3 or 1.d4 d6 2.Bg6. By the way, I’m french and you have this rare talent to be totally understandable for a beginner like me. Sharing your knowledge is an amazing gift for me. Thank you.

[@briandwi2504]

I tried to reply, but not sure if it posted! Anyway, Chessable has an excellent and free course on the Pirc. The short and sweet chapter will give you plenty of opening knowledge to get started. Go to Chessable and search for 'Play the power Pirc', it's excellent!

[@TheChessGiant]

Hey Julien, thanks a ton for letting me know. Glad to hear you are enjoying the Czech Pirc content, and ya I definetely think the Czech Pirc Defense has a ton of pros. And thanks for the kind words - I try my best to make it so that anyone can watch the videos and get something out of them, so this means a ton. Thanks and more Czech Pirc content on the way!

[@WarDaddy2023]

Hello Solomon, i play the czech pirc and have been desperately looking for a course to supplement my game. I will 100% buy your course if you make one!! Thanks for all the great content.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks for letting me know! Courses take a lot of work so I am hesitant to make them if I don't think anyone is wanting to learn about it. Thanks for following the content brotha and more Czech Pirc stuff on the way in the coming weeks!

[@jaydub2971]

Kramnik played the top engine moves? Interesting... 😉

[@KeithDonovan-cd3eo]

Do the procedure 😂

[@TheChessGiant]

hahahaha

[@cdickson01]

I absolutely love your instruction style and ive really fell in love with the Hippo because of you. PLEASE keep going and thank you!! Subbed!

[@TheChessGiant]

Oh thank you for that man - apreciate that!!!

[@briandwi2504]

Really liked the discussion on the endgame, thanks!

[@TheChessGiant]

You got it Brian! Endgames are HUGE!

[@Mike-VR]

Please! A course on the Czech Pirc would be great. Many Thanks

[@TheChessGiant]

You've probably seen already but I have posted the course!

[@CMMK]

Czech speaks for itself. Actually there is a new German Chessable course on the Czech ("Tschechisch") available, also the Short&Sweet version.

[@TheChessGiant]

Oh nice! Yep the Czech Pirc does speak for itself and it's cool to see others making more content on the chess opening for black!

[@creativeflo5599]

Thank you! I’ve been playing this for years but there isn’t as many trick and traps and line videos as other openings so this will help me so much as I get good openings but lose it a lot middle game wise

[@TheChessGiant]

You got it! And ya the Czech Pirc Defense is more middlegame focused which is nice for improvement. Many play super trappy chess openings, and sure, they're fun. But there's a TON of value in focusing in on the middlegame and I think the Czech Pirc Defense helps with that. Glad you are enjoying the Czech Pirc videos and more are on the way!

[@creativeflo5599]

Fantastic thank you!

[@AlexicekYoutube]

I’m interested in a course

[@TheChessGiant]

Posted it a few days ago!

[@mrpatzer]

Thanks for this man, I'll try to play it as I work towards my Arena Candidate Master title (recording that journey on my channel)

[@TheChessGiant]

Ya sounds good, and thanks for letting me know - just subscribed!

[@johnmahugu]

i used to play this before i switched to playing the hippo exclusively

[@TheChessGiant]

Both great chess openings! But.... ya I mean the Hippo is unmatched.

[@jarrodthekidder1]

Obviously, Solomon, you KNOW, I'm going to vote yes / comment on / purchase any course that has the word "Pirc" in it.... but I'll say it anyway. YES! Please make a course lol

[@TheChessGiant]

Jarrod, you always come to mind!! As I've said before, sometimes I have a specific sub that I have in mind and you're the one that pops in my head whenever I am thinking up Pirc content. Defintely want to make a course on it. I am currently working on the Alekhine's Defense - and I think the Czech Pirc will follow afterwards. I want to make the Czech Pirc and also a regular Pirc Defense course. But, one thing at a time. Every course is a ton of work haha.

[@alvarobastida1963]

Great video!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks! Glad you liked it. More Czech Defense stuff on the way!

[@skyeruddell3196]

Yes, make the course!

[@TheChessGiant]

Heard!

[@skyeruddell3196]

@@TheChessGiant so curious how long did the hippo course take you? I'd imagine it's months of prepping.

[@jasonwolfe2991]

I would love a czech pirc course. I like playing hyper-modern with the black pieces and I learned the basics of the czech from Robert Ramirez videos and I would love to learn it in-depth with a course.

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks for the comment Jason! Ya you and I are very alike in liking hyper-modern stuff with the black pieces. I am looking to finish up my Alekhine's Defense course soon, and am excited to tackle a Czech Pirc Defense course shortly after!

[@jasonwolfe2991]

@@TheChessGiant would Alekhine's defense be considered hyper-modern?

[@mozart5474]

great to see the many moves and threats of this black rook from the a file...oh wait a second...

[@stevereade4858]

Love a course on Czech. Will pay!

[@TheChessGiant]

Thanks for letting me know! Working on Alekhine's Defense course at the moment but am excited to work on a Czech Pirc course after!

[@RayT70]

So, how does black play if instead of a4 white played g5?

[@TheChessGiant]

We can drop the knight back there and keep focusing our energy towards the queenside. (Nh5 often is great against g5 BUT in this case the white queen has eyes on that spot.)

[@prakharekhare]

Sir make a landon series and thanks for amazing content

[@TheChessGiant]

Heard! Thanks for putting this on my radar.

[@prakharekhare]

Ok waiting 😂

[@brandvi45]

personally i would play gxf6 over Bxf6, just because i feel like its easier to manuver the king in the position. i also dont really know what i want to do with my bishop after Bxf6

[@TheChessGiant]

That's fair! It is true that the king has a very clear straight shot after this.

[@zchesiq]

what up my man!!!!

[@TheChessGiant]

Yo what's good!

[@pfsfighter]

I have two courses and one book about the Czech Pirc, but all of them don't find a convincing way to get a decent position for black (that is at least close to equality) in the most critical lines. If you can provide a course that can do that, I will definitely buy it.

[@TheChessGiant]

Noted. That is interesting - I feel like the lines I've looked at black is usually okay. Surprising to hear the book doesn't give black good positions in those main line options from white.

[@davidbatchelder85]

take with bishop, then activate the rook, much better

[@TheChessGiant]

Which position are you speaking of? Sending a timestamp could help me find it. Thanks David!

[@MartinZanichelli]

I was thinking a few minutes ago about the Czech Pirc! Are you reading my mind? Please, I don´t know how you do it, but don´t do it

[@TheChessGiant]

Woah. Well that's good timing haha. More Czech Pirc Defense content on the way!

+1 like for the Czech Pirc Defense course! 😬

[@TheChessGiant]

Heard! Thanks for letting me know 🤝

[@jananika5017]

Iam your first comment

[@TheChessGiant]

And you are the first I'm replying to 🤝🗣

[@simelelundishoba7327]

gxf6

[@KeithDonovan-cd3eo]

Play what you like is bad advice, play whats best

[@TheChessGiant]

I hear what you are saying. Some might enjoy playing the Bongcloud Opening, as an example. But I am more speaking of when the computer has minute differences between moves/openings variations. Sometimes the engine tells us to play stuff that.... just... doesn't make sense. I would say too that many get sucked into something like the Sicilian Defense or Caro-Kann Defense just because they're the "best." But are they? Are there other off-key options that are playable? I think so. Many would say the Hippo is a troll opening, but I couldn't disagree more.

[@KeithDonovan-cd3eo]

@@TheChessGiant interesting point of view I do see where you are coming from, but we will have to agree to disagree on this 👍