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.

887 Comments

  1. 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

  2. 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.

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

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

  5. 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 ..

  6. 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?

  7. 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

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

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

  10. 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.

  11. 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

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

  13. 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?

  14. 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

  15. 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.

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

  17. 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…

  18. 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 🤷‍♂️

  19. 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.

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

  21. I tried this and got checkmated in 7 moves. Doesn't seem to work against a London opening. White had bishop on e4 Queen to f3 and pushed their pawn to g5 to attack my knight. I developed the Pirc defence as shown in the video but there was nothing about how to respond to this. I moved my knight to d7 and was immediately checkmated when the Queen took f7. I'm finding this very frustrating. I used to use the other black opening suggested by the same guy. Maybe it works with better opponents but I'm only in the 500s and most of my opponents are aggressive and I just can't seem to find a good opening for black.

  22. Great video, it took me a while to find somebody to do this. Do you have a video on how to respond against it as white?

  23. Incredible lesson. I love that you give us black's game plan and the moves that achieve that while also elaborating on the subtle details.

  24. What if they attack your knight with the pawn in the classical variation?

  25. I almost never see the classical variation at my level, almost everyone plays bg5

  26. 5:00 is the center fork truck good for black in this position? Nxe4 Nxe4, d5

  27. Please tell me you aren’t going to say perc defense instead of pírc

  28. At 4:54 couldn't you have taken the pawn on D4 with the knight? Cuz if they took the knight with their knight you would get a fork with pawn to e5.

  29. “and I said thank you for improving my bishop, look at my bishop now” savage! Good to be back into chess after half a year off, of course I’m revisiting this course again 😁 I’ve missed the commentary. “I castle, he castles” another classic. Thanks for this great course Robert!

  30. This is a fantastic introduction to the pirc. It also shows how learning the KID is a complementary skill. NM Ramirez is one of the great chess teachers on YouTube.

  31. d6 pirc favorite defense….e4 favorite opening offense…

  32. Great video ! Finally i found something good against e4 for black , i am pretty good in the kings indian defense , so it wont be hart , to start playing the pirc i think!

  33. Trying to learn modern defence but GM lemos said you should also need to learn Pirc classical when white Do both Nc3 Nf3 so i am here 😅
    Thanks a lot helping me a lot for my upcoming tournament prep.
    Hopefully i will get up to 1600 STD FIDE soon #fanloveIndia 🇮🇳

  34. i use this since i watched this video its the only defense i know lol rewatching it to finetune

  35. i love how you explain opennings when i finish your videos of opening i feel ready to play them, but when i watch other videos of other channels i feel that i have to use the engine more to train and feel ready.

  36. It is not pronounced “Purk”
    It is pronounced “Peerts”

  37. Thanks coach , I have studied both of the pirc opens ,your style for of teaching is totally clear, any English speaking student will not problem following your instructions .
    Nice win with MS. 35:50 Alexandra Botez,she is a fine player, Fide rating well over 2000, you won the game handily , very impressive.
    Since I ve been studying with you Mr. Ramirez my understanding of chess game principles and winning have improved my leaps bounds… speaking for myself along with all of the students , we appreciate you … thanks again

  38. Thanks Robert really killing it with these awesome videos

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