Note to the 2nd Edition

Referring to my co-author Alex Chernin, GM Alexander Beliavsky once said: "Alex's files show theory as it will be in 10 years!" Indeed, Pirc Alert, based on those files, has stood the test of time. Still, eight years is eight years, and the time came to augment, and in some cases even to alter, Chernin's 2001 recommendations.

Part 1 (mine) and Chernin's Part II, "General Themes and Ideas," required only a few changes. The unique Part II pro­vides the reader with in-depth understanding of all the Pirc's structures and related ideas, thus enabling him to learn any new line quickly and efficiently, even those not part of our recommended repertoire in Part III. But even when updating Part III, which deals with current theory, I tried to preserve Alex's masterpiece; thus, my comments are usually in brack­ets.

Al Lawrence and I tried to produce Pirc Alert in a way that makes it enjoyable for you to get the most out of the instruc­tion it contains. For more information on how to use this book easily and effectively, please see Chapter 2.

GM Lev Alburt

New York City, January 3, 2009

Content:
007 Part I: About This Book, by GM Lev Alburt

008 Chapter 1: The Authors & the Pirc

The Alex files

018 Chapter 2: How to Use This Book

Making the most of your time

020 Chapter 3: How to Study an Opening

Putting the passion into the Pirc

027 Part II: General Themes and Ideas, by GM Alex Chernin

028 Chapter 4: The Pirc as an Idea

More concept than concrete variations

042 Chapter 5: Black Plays ... c7-c5

Counterpunching from the queenside

066 Chapter 6: Black plays ... e7-e5

White responds with dxe5 or d4-d5

074 Chapter 7: The Philidor & Ruy Lopez Pircs

White responds to ... e7-e5 by leaving his pawn on d4

110 Chapter 8: The Ruy Lopez & Philidor Pirc as a System

More on ... e7-e5, when White leaves his pawn on d4

134 Chapter 9: White Plays e4-e5

Intruder alert!

154 Chapter 10: Black's Queenside Pawn Play

The Fire's right hand

174 Chapter 11: Black's Fianchettoed Bishop

The Pirc's left hand

186 Chapter 12: Black's Other Pieces

Developing with a plan

198 Chapter 13: The Pirc Versus the Modern

Family differences

208 Pirc Player Profiles: Vasja Pirc

209 Part III: Theoretical Variations, by Chernin & Alburt

210 Introduction

212 Pirc Player Profiles: Yasser Seirawan & Jon Speelman

213 Section One Introduction: White Strives for e4-e5

214 Chapter 14: The Austrian Attack

And Black's "Brenner Pass"

248 Chapter 15: White Plays 4. Bc4

Paper tiger of the Pirc

262 Chapter 16: White Plays 4. Bg5

Real tiger of the Pirc

296 Pirc Player Profiles: Zoltan Ribli & Jan Timman

297 Section Two Introduction: White Concentrates on His Center

298 Chapter 17: The Classical System, I

Introduction & 5. Be2

324 Chapter 18: The Classical System, II

White plays 4. Nf3 & 5. h3

338 Chapter 19: White Plays 4. g3

The self-centered system

358 Pirc Player Profiles: Tony Miles & Mikhail Gurevich

359 Section Three Introduction: Macho on the Kingside

360 Chapter 20: White Plays 4. Be3

Ready to storm the kingside

394 Chapter 21: White Plays 4. Be2 & 5. h4

The kamikaze h-pawn

402 Pirc Player Profiles: Alexander Beliavsky & Alex Chernin

403 Section Four Introduction: White Plays a "Hybrid" System

404 Chapter 22: White Plays 4. Nf3 & 5. Be3

The Hybrid System

416 Pirc Player Profiles: Mikhail Botvinnik

417 Section Five Introduction: White Avoids 3. Nc3

418 Chapter 23: White Plays 3. Bd3

Early skirmish, early equality

434 Chapter 24: White Plays 3. f3

Saemisch anyone?

440 Conclusion

441 Index of Games

443Table of Variations