Learn the Pirc Defense as Black | My Best Opening for Black | Chess Lesson # 69

The Pirc Defense for black is simply a great opening to have in your repertoire. I learned it when I was a beginner Chess player and it took me to where I am now. I play other openings (and you should too) but when I have to play a decisive game, I only trust my Pirc defense. I intend to teach it to you the right way step by step. Hopefully you get to enjoy it as much I do.

00:00 Why you should play the Pirc Defense as Black
06:19 First ideas about The Pirc Defense with Bg4
12:36 The Pirc Defense with Bg4 vs dxe5
16:50 The Pirc Defense with Bg4 vs d5
28:49 The Pirc Defense (main line of g6 and Bg7) with c6

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My Book Recommendations:
First tactics book:
Mixed tactics book:
Advanced tactics book:
Advanced tactics book (II):
Carlsen’s book (excellent):
Kramnik’s book (excellent):
Pirc Defense book:
Endgames book:

Learn how to play Chess the right way from beginner to master level. National Master Robert Ramirez will take you up the pyramid by following a proven Chess training program he has been improving and implementing for over 10 years.

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Chess is an intellectual battle where players are exposed to numerous mental processes such as analysis, attention to detail, synthesis, concentration, planning and foresight. Psychological factors are also present on and off the board; playing Chess stimulates our imagination and creativity. Every single move a player makes is the result of a deep analysis based on the elements presented on the battlefield.

Chess in its essence teaches us psychological, sociological and even moral values. In a Chess game, both players start with the same amount of material and time. The fact that the white pieces move first is considered to be practically irrelevant —especially because a player typically plays one game as white and one game as black. Consequently, the final result of the battle solely depends on each player. It doesn’t matter if you win by taking advantage of your opponent’s mistakes or by simply avoiding mistakes yourself. Truth is that Chess is an extremely individual sport and our defeats can only be blamed on ourselves and no one else. And this, in the end, only benefits us because we learn to be and feel responsible for our actions and never come up with excuses to justify ourselves.

We also learn that when it comes to our victories on the board, our opponent’s mistakes play a more significant role than our own skills. Let’s not forget that a Chess game without any mistakes would be a draw. This way, Chess provides us with another valuable life lesson: be humble at all times.

About National Master Robert Ramirez:

With an outstanding background as a professional Chess player and over 8 years of teaching experience, Robert Ramirez brings both his passion and his expertise to the board, helping you believe & achieve!

Robert Ramirez was introduced to the fascinating world of Chess when he was 5 years old and has participated in prestigious tournaments such as the World Open Chess Tournament and the Pan American Intercollegiate Team Championships. Thanks to his performance, he has earned his National Master title from the United States Chess Federation.

Currently, NM Ramirez and his carefully selected team teach at several private schools in the counties of Miami-Dade and Broward and they also offer private lessons. He says the key to their success as Chess coaches is their ability to adapt to every student and to make lessons fun and interesting for students and even their family members.

500 Comments

  1. What if they go with their pawn to e5 and threaten your knight while you are setting up

  2. I smashed my opponent with pirc defense in a 1min bullet, check out my video

  3. I haaaate this channnel talkinggg wayyyyyyy toooooooo fukin much

  4. Hey great explanation, but what happens when they just push a pawn to E5 before developing. It forces you to give up middle and move knight. Any tips? Thanks

  5. I know Im a bit late to the game but what do I do if someone plays pon d5 before I have a chance to play knight c6?

  6. and here is me watching this video after work around midgnight, thank you for your amazing work 🙂

  7. Thank you so much! I have a tournement and I feel this is really gonna help me!

  8. What do you do again e4 d4 e5 response by white?

  9. An excellent series of videos; thanks. I am returning to chess after recently retiring and opening theory is undoubtedly the weakest part of my game. This series of videos is just what I need to improve my game.

  10. I just started using the Pirc instead of the Czech Pirc. seems to work better for me. i often felt cramped and sometimes just got smothered and steamrolled. I ran about 500 games (bout 50% win rate) or so with Czech Pirc but not so much with Pirc. Seems i get a bit more breathing room but still tend to adapt a bit of Czech Pirc into the Pirc, such as pawn C6. Overall, i like this better I think.

  11. Gorgeous. Love these Pirc opening ideas. NM Namirez ftw!

  12. This was the best chess lesson i ever had seen in my life and how does anyone give this of quality things for free.

  13. Hi Rob
    Here is my latest game with the Pirc following your recommendations 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bc4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nc6 9. Be3 e5 10. d5 Ne7 11. Bg5 Nd7 12. Rad1 h6 13. Be3 f5 14. Qe2 f4 15. Bc1 g5 16. f3 Ng6 17. b3 Nf6 18. Bd2 h5 19. Kh2 h4 20. Rg1 Kf7 21. Rdf1 Nh5 22. Be1 Ng3 23. Bxg3 hxg3+ 24. Kh1 Rh8 25. Rd1 Rh5 26. Rge1 Qh8 27. Qf1 Nh4 28. Be2 Nxg2 29. Kxg2 Rxh3 30. Rd2 Rh2+ 31. Kg1 Rh1+ 32. Kg2 Qh2# 0-1

  14. You're such a wholesome Youtuber. I love how much you reply to your comments 🙂

  15. The game that ends on 28:34 is enough to convince myself on playing this defense. Wow that’s beautiful

  16. Hey I discoverd this channels only some days ago while I wanted to learn the pirc and You became my most watched youtube channel thanks for the contact

  17. i know a super interesting line against the pirc:
    1 e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 g6 4 Be2 Bg7 5 g4!? preparing to play g5 and h4 starting a kingside attack

  18. You have covered a lot already, big thanks for the content! However, there is a sideline which no one has covered as of yet, which is the harmonist variation… 2.f4. Would love to hear your view on this move and possible continuations.

  19. I found the checkmate in 2 yayy. Now I'll get past my 850 rapid with this defense 😅

  20. thank you for making this video! it's such an interesting defense to play

  21. Robert thx for your time and knowlege with all of this . !! could you change your mouse pointer tobe bigger or something as I always think theres a flea on my screen lol thx again ..

  22. After N on b5 is attacked by a6, why not Ng7? It's defended by a rook & attacks Black's rook on a8. Why retreat?

  23. I appreciate the repetition. Gotham chess does no repetition and doesn't show the actual overall goal of the strategic plan if everything goes well.

    He just goes through all of the variations on add Adderall like we all have the memory of an IM

  24. It is not Pirk but Pirc according to the surname of Slovenian GM…c like you pronounce first letter od the surname Tsitsipas 🙂

  25. I am having a hard time choosing between pirc and czech. I like both

  26. What if they push their e4 pawn very early when it’s defended by the d4 pawn? You are forced to take and/or move your knight.

  27. At the classical variation i play a bit different i don't castle but i take the pawn at e4 with my knight and i they take back with their knight i fork with pawn to D5

  28. I don't know why I like Pirc , I feel it feels annoying for white (I'm low ELO playing for fun)

  29. Hi ,
    In his videos, Robert mentions giving us access to all his lines for pirc written out but I can’t seem to find this in his description. Does anyone know where they can be found?

  30. i know this video is a year old but I was looking through some high level games and kept finding the move a6 being played instead of bg4 or c6. I am curious what the plan is with a6

  31. When you attack the night on B5 what's your answer to night c7 attacking the Rook then night to e6 forking queen and rook.

  32. Beautiful I love the Pirc there’s so many lateral thinking options to choose from priceless

  33. Hi.. I'm a really noob of this opening, but I wanted to improve to insert it in my repertoire.. in the variation where white plays 3. Bd3 the engine recommends the move 3… e5… I know tihs is a really rare variation (on the lichess database if you're not a master you will face this 1 time when you face 6 times 3. Nc3.. if you're a master even less).. but I'dlike to ask you waht do you think about 3… e5.. 🙂 sorry for my english…

  34. 35:00 U could of as well took pawn beside white bishop, then take pawn beside king. That's also a check mate, I Mean ye it's also a 3 move check mate but shit still work 🤷‍♂️

  35. This video has really helped me out to play chess better than I usually do. I will practice the opening and study the movements of my opponents. I am so amazed to see the end result of the game which you showed us. Thanks a lot and hope we can see more technique to improve our plays.

  36. Absolutely the most fun opening. Nothing else compares to the joy of the Pirc.

  37. Hey guys! Pardon my mispronunciation of the name Pirc. I learned it in Spanish many years ago and my tongue has had a hard time adjusting 😎 I corrected it a few lessons down the road 👍

    Also, if you don't know the difference between Pirc and King's Indian Defense, here is the explanation 👉 https://youtu.be/bCmsHfrcBBc?t=54

    Finally! If your opponent plays 3.e5, this is how to get a winning position 👉 https://youtu.be/soHgoqfsh8Q?t=703

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