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November '00 Update

I've received quite a few e-mails asking about the Czech Pirc and I am using this update exclusively for it. This line achieved the peak of its popularity in the early nineties, first of all due to the efforts of players from former Czechoslovakia: J.Pribyl, M.Pribyl, K.Mokry and others.

Black had very good results and at that time it was a significant part of Vladimir Kramnik's opening repertoure. Later its popularity went down after White found a line which proved rather unpleasant for Black, but the last word has certainly not yet been said.

All the best

Alex Volzhin

Czech Pirc Main Line

1 e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 c6 4 f4 Qa5










AV226 Black tries a slightly different approach after which wild complications soon arise on the board.

AV227 This game shows how precise Black's play should be in the opening. Any mistake, even in a side line, can quickly lead to disaster.

AV228 Paul Motwani smashes one of the world's top players in typically brilliant style.

AV229 White sacrifices 2 pawns and the exchange just to secure a blockade over the dark squares. At the critical moment both opponents blunder but it is White who errs last...

AV230 Here, with passive play, only White has problems to solve in the opening. Luckily for him Black decided to sacrifice a piece for an attack which happened to be illusory.

AV231 White plays carelessly in the opening and is punished very convincingly by a typical flank attack.

AV232 This instructive game illustrates Black's chances very nicely. Given the opposite sides' castling White plays too slowly...

AV233 This variation is fairly complicated and routine play can lead nowhere. Here White quickly finds himself without any good prospects.

AV234 This game shows very clearly the dangers Black may be faced with. He plays his queen out early and so must be very careful not to find himself too far behind in development.

AV235 A passive approach has its drawbacks as well. If White secures his strong pawn centre and completes development unimpeded then he has good chances to prove an advantage.