Beating The

ire/ Mo ern
With The

ta c etto artabo
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ff Andrew Soltis
 Beating The

Pirc/Modem
With The

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GM Andrew Soltis
Chess Digest, Inc.
 Copyright © 1993 A ndrew SoltiS

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ISBN: 0-87568-220-0

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A UTHOR: Andrew Soltis

EDITOR: Ken Smith
COMPUTER TYPESETTING: David Sewell
COVER: Elaine Smith
PROOFREA DER: Hugh Myers
FINA L PREPA RATION & DIA GRA MS: David Sewell

PUBLISHER: Chess Digest, Inc. ®, Inc., 1601 Tantor, Dallas, Texas

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 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEDICATION 4

CHAPTER ONE 5
Inrroduction and ...c7-c5 systems
Illusrrative game 16
Short-Donner, Amsterdam 1982

CHAP1ER TWO 19
Black battles for d4 with Nc6
Illusrrative games 32
Timoshchenko-Dorfman, Moscow GMA 1989
Byme-Christiansen, U.S. Championship, Berkeley 1984

CHAPTER THREE 40
Black reinforces the center with the flexible 7 ...Nbd7
Illusrrative game 55
Miles-Wojtkiewicz, Palma de Mallorca GMA 1989

CHAPTER FOUR 59
Black delays a decision about his Queen Knight
Illusrrative games 66
Geller-Chernin, Belgrade GMA 1988
Martinovic-Gligoric, Budva 1986
Ivanchuk-Ehlvest, Linares 1991
Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation

Beating the .•. ? Series

Dedicated to those who play

l.e4 and want to beat the
Semi-Open Defenses
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 5

Introduction and ...c7 -c5 Systems

When the Pirc and Modem Defenses began to appear in the

games of masters, beginning in the 50's and 60's, these offbeat openings
received little attention. Later, when Black began to win a lot with the Pirc
and Modem, mainly in the 70's, White responded with aggression. The
most popular antidotes were systems in which White played for a quick
mating attack on the Kingside, usually with Be3 (or BgS) and Qd2, or with
a rapid advance of the f-pawn.

But when Black didn't oblige by falling over dead, White had to
change his strategy. In the 1980's and 90's, players who begin the game
with l .e4 have been adopting a variety of quieter weapons against ...g6 and
...Bg7. And one of the most solid - and consistently successful - systems
available is the subtle Fianchetto.

Sometimes in the Fianchetto Variation it is hard to tell immedi­

ately that we are in a l .e4 game, rather than a l .d4 one. For example, a re­
cent illustration of White's wide range of strategies was:

Vulicevic-Rosenberg, Ma rsha llC.C. Interna tiona l1992

1. e4 g6
2. d4 Bg7
3. Nc3 d6
4. Nge2

This last move appears to be the most flexible way of reaching the
desired Fianchetto Variation setup, although the more traditional 4.g3 is
still preferred by many players.

4. Nf6
5. g3 0-0
6. Bg2 Nbd7
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 6

7. 0-0 e5
s. h3 c6
9. a4 ReS
10. d5! ?

Is this any way for a King-pawn player to be starting the middle­

game? Yes, he may be willing to close the center in order to begin a
Queenside attack. For example, 10 ...c5 would invite White to work against
the Queenside with l l .Nb5, Nf8 12. c3 followed by b2-b4 and Be3. Oust­
ing the b5-Knight with 12 ...a6 only helps White to play Na3 and Nc4.

This is the kind of procedure more often seen in some variation of

the King's Indian Defense or the English than in something that began
l.e4. But it is a dangerous weapon nonetheless . Black opened the game
and temporarily accepted a weak pawn with:

10. ..• cxd5

1 1. Nxd5! Nxd5
12. Qxd5 Nf6
13. Qd1 Be6
14. Nc3 Qd7
15. Kh2 h6
16. Be3 RedS
17. Qd2 d5?

Black probably believed he had equalized, now that his only static
weakness is being eliminated on d5. However, White seizes the initiative
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 7

now and never lets it go.

18. exd5 Nxd5

19. Nxd5 Bxd5
20. Rfd1! Be6
21. Qxd7 Rxd7
22. Rxd7 Bxd7
23. aS!

Much better than 23.Bxb7 Rb8 and 24... Rxb2. The text threatens
24.Bxb7 Rb8 25.a6 (and 26.Bxa7) as well as 24.a6! The forced exchange
of Bishops now sets up a7 as a permanent Black weakness.

23. ... Bc6

24. Bxc6 bxc6
25. a6! Kf8
26. Ra4! Ke8
27. Rb4 Bf8
28. Rb7 cS
29. c3 f6
30. b4! cxb4
31. cxb4 Bd6
32. bS Bb8

33. Bxh6
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 8

Black is fairly helpless and the winning breakthrough could have

been achieved by 33.Kg2 (and Kf3-e4-d5 etc) or 33.Bc5 and 34.Rh7, or
just 33.b6.

33. g5
34. Bg7 f5
35. Bf6 g4
36. Re7ch Kf8
37. Rd7 Black Resigns.

There is no defense to 38.Rd8ch and 39.Bxe5!

Moral: In the Fianchetto Variation, White doesn't have to mate

his opponent He has more than one way to win.

The plan of fianchettoing White's King Bishop in the Pirc and

Modem had been tried from time to time during the past four decades. But
too often it was overlooked - even when it scored its most remarkable suc­
cesses. For example, Pal Benko used the Fianchetto Variation (then a sys­
tem without a name) to upset Bobby Fischer - widely regarded at the time
as a pre-tournament favorite - in the very frrst round of the 1%2
Candidates Tournament.

One reason that little attention was paid to the opening was the
way it evolved. Benko's frrst move was l .g3!?. Annotators didn't know
what to call it except the "Benko Opening".

But within eight more moves the two American Grandmasters had
reached a position that will be more familiar to us from this move order:

1. e4 d6
2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 g6
4. g3 Bg7
5. Bg2 0-0
6. Nge2 e5
7. 0-0 c6
8. a4 Nbd7
9. aS!?
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 9

White's last space-gaining move stops or discourages such liberat­

ing ideas as ...b7-b5 and ...Qa5. In the similar position from the King's
Indian defense - that is, with a White pawn at c4 rather than c2 - White
would be reluctant to advance his a-pawn because that would concede
control of b4 to Black pieces. But in the Pirc/Modem positions, as the dia­
gram shows, Black retains the possibility of booting Black out of b4 with a
subsequent c2-c3.

Fischer appeared confused by his opponent's setup and intentions.

"Just what are we playing?", he seemed to be asking with his next series of
King's Indian-like moves.

9. exd4
10. Nxd4 NcS
1 1. h3 Re8
12. Re1 Nfd7
13. Be3 Qc7

In the King's Indian, Black has the option of attacking White's

pawn at e4 or the one at c4. Here however, there is no c4-pawn, and the
e-pawn has received maximum protection. What's a Fischer to do?

14. f4! Rb8

15. Qd2

It was becoming clear that his d6-pawn was going to be hard to

defend, his Knights had lost their best squares, and he had somehow been
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 10

outplayed. And following ...

15. b5?!
16. axb6 axb6
17. b4 Ne6
18. b5!

...Benko had won pawn control of d5 and was well on his way to a
stunning upset.

Because Benko won another early game (against Mikhail Tal) in

·this tournament with l .g3, the impact of his victory in the Fischer game
was minimized. The win was written off as one of Benko's crazy slow sys­
tems that got lucky in a tournament where Bobby began off-form.

It was not until the late 1970's - after world champion Anatoly
Karpov employed it against the Dutch Grandmaster Jan Timman in a high
profile game - that the Fianchetto Variation began to get its due. Gradu­
ally, new strategies for White were found, such as Kingside expansion with
h2-h3, f2-f4, g3-g4 and Ng3, or the closing of the center with d4-d5, to
create Queenside targets at c6 and perhaps b7. And a variety of Black
sub-variations were formed. Let' s consider the main ideas:

The Fianchetto Variation comes about most often from the Pirc
Defense and Modem Defense. The standard opening moves in the Pirc are:

1. e4 d6
2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 g6
4. Nge2 Bg7
5. g3 0-0
6. Bg2

... and from the Modern:

1. e4 g6
2. d4 Bg7
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 11

3. Nc3 d6
4. Nge2 Nf6
5. g3 0-0
6. Bg2

Either way we reach this key position:

There are many transpositional possibilities for both players in

this opening's ftrst half dozen moves, with White often inserting h2-h3 and
Be3 before Nge2, and Black developing his Queenside before castling.
However, the real choices begin here.

Clearly, 6 . b6?? is out of the question (e5! and wins). We should

..

point out here that this is one of the rare instances in which White can,
open the long diagonal of his Bishop effectively in the early part of the
game. Generally, White should avoid trying to achieve e4-e5 until he is
much better developed, or when he is assured of winning material that is
left hanging around b7 or a8. After all, the first player has an advantage in
space because of his superior center. It makes sense to avoid simplifying
the position until he has all his pieces in play. To some extent, the same
goes for Black, who doesn't want to play...e7-e5xd4 too early. See Illustra­
tive Game 1 .

Our main lines will concern 6...e5. Black can, we must point out.
conceal his plans about the center a bit further with moves such as 6... Nc6
or 6. ..c6 or 6... Nbd7. But generally these moves will transpose into the
main 6...e5 positions, once Black advances his e-pawn. (Note that 6...c6 is
probably best met by 7.a4 to prevent 7 ...b5!)
 lJcllting The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 12

Also we should note that 6. . .cS appears to be premature because

White obtains a small but clear edge with 7.dxc5 dxcS 8.Qxd8 Rxd8
9.Be3 ! e.g. 9 ...Na6 10.h3 Ne8?! ll.NdS Kf8 12.0-0-0 Bd7 13.Bg5 as in
Adelnabi-Speelman, Lucerne 1989. Preparing the c-pawn's advance with
6...Na6 appears questionable after 7.h3 cS 8.a4 Rb8 and now 9.0-0 b6
lO.NbS ! Bb7 l l .d5! after which Black has little better than to start over
again on the Queenside with l l ...Ra8.

The one independent variation worth considering here is 6 ...Nbd7

and ...c7-e5. If Black can then exchange pawns (...cxd4) the result is a kind
of Dragon Sicilian in which White has ftanchettoed his King Bishop. For
example, in the early days of the Fianchetto Variation, Black was achiev­
ing rough equality after 6... Nbd7 7.0-0 a6 8.a4 c5 9.h3 Qc7 10.dxc5?! Nx­
cS l l .Bg5 Be6 12.Nf4 Qa5 1 3.Nxe6? Nxe6 14.Bd2 Qc7 as in Fran­
coni-Hort, Biell981.

So the most typical example of this ...c7-c5 strategy for Black

would continue from the last diagram with:

6. Nbd7
7. 0-0 c5
8. h3

This last move is virtually a necessity for White in the Fianchetto

Variation. White needs to safeguard himself against ... Ng4 before he plays
Be3, and he also finds it convenient to prevent the harassment of ...Bg4. It
isn't all preventative. By this last move he also prepares Kingside opera­
tions with a subsequent g3-g4 and Ng3.

After 8.h3, Black will be faced with a recurring question of

whether to exchange pawns on d4 or wait for White to make a decision.
Experience over the past decade has indicated White stands well after
...cxd4 because Black's Knight is then misplaced on d7 (compared with the
Dragon Variation of the Sicilian Defense, when the Knight reaches the
more active c6 square, e.g. l.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3
g6 6.g3 Nc6 and White usually plays 7 .Nde2 here to avoid problems after
...Bg7 and ...Nxd4).
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 13

For example, 8 ...cxd4 9.Nxd4 a6 10.Be3 and now 10...b5? again

loses to 1 1 .e5, and 1 O...Qc7 1 1 .Re 1 Rb8 invites the thematic 12.Nd5 ! Nxd5
13.exd5 which ensures a positional plus for White in view of the weakling
at e7. The Knight advance also gives White an edge in case Black reposi­
tions the Knight with 10 ... Ne5 l l .b3 Bd7 12.Nd5 ! Nxd5 13.exd5 (Threat
of 14.f4) or 12 ...Nc6 13.c4 Nxd5 14.exd5 ! Nxd4 1 5.Bxd4 b5 16.Bxg7
Kxg7 17.Qd4ch and 1 8.c5 as in Slnovlev-Brestlan, Oberwart 1991.

8. ... a6

For some reason, Black has experimented with 8 ...Rb8 from time
to time as an alternative method of pushing his b-pawn or organizing the
Black Queenside for a counter fianchetto. One early game, Zaltseva­
Akhsharumova, Moscow 1983, went 9.a4 b6 10.Be3 Bb7 l l .d5?! a6
12.g4 b5! 1 3.axb5 axb5 14.Nxb5 Bxd5 with ftne play for Black.

Oddly enough, it often makes more sense in the Fianchetto

Variation for White to avoid closing the center when he advances his
g-pawn. For example, -Djurhuus-Van Wely, Tunja 1989 went 8 ...Rb8
9.a4 a6 1 0.Be3 b6 1 1 .Qd2 Re8 and now 12.g4! is a useful expansion.

Black countered with 12 ... h5!? but after 1 3.g5 Nh7 14.f4 cxd4
15.Nxd4 Bb7 16.e5! dxe5 17.Nc6! White had excellent middlegame
chances.

Similarly, in Geller-Christiansen, Moscow 1982 Black varied

with the more ambitious 10 ... Qc7 (instead of 10 .. .b6) l l .Qd2 b5. But after
12.axb5 axb5 1 3.Nd5 ! Nxd5 14.exd5 Nb6 15.b3 Black found nothing bet­
ter than 1 5 ...c4 16.Qb4 e6 17.dxe6 Bxe6 1 8.Nf4 Bd7 after which 19.Ra6!
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 14

mtd 20.Rfa 1 made White's superiority obvious.

9. Be3 Qc7

Black adopts a wait and see policy, one that is much better than
9 ... cxd4?! 10.Bxd4! Qc7 1 1.Nd5! with the now familiar positional pull for
White. Mter 1 1...Nxd5 1 2.exd5 he obtains more out of the opening of the
e-file than Black gets anywhere else on the board.

10. Qd2

White also waits. Generally, White gets a small edge after he in­
itiates the exchange on c5. Here for instance, 10.dxc5 would tum out excel­
lently after 10... dxc5? because then l l .f4 and a later e4-e5 gives White the
lion's share of the center.

However, Black would prefer 10... Nxc5 af ter which White can try
to land on d5 or d6 at some point - 1 1 .Nf4 e6! 12.Qd2 Bd7 13.Rfd1 Ne8
when Black had a solid but cramped position in Barlov-Smyslov, New
York 1987.

10. .. . Rb8

Once again 1 O...cxd4 plays into White's hands whether he retakes

on d4 with the Bishop or the Knight. Mter 1 1 .Nxd4 (or l l .Bxd4) Ne5
12.b3 e6 Black seems to have all the key points covered. But White can ex­
pand at will -13.Radl Rd8 14.f4! Nc6 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Na4! Rb8 17.c4
and 18.c5 as in Bashkov-Mlnaslan, Podolsk 1991.

1 1. Rfd1
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 15

With this White maintains a powerfully centralized position at the

dawn of the middlegame. At some point he will probably exchange on c5.
He can do it immediately with l l .dxc5 Nxc5 12.Nf4 after which 12 . . .e6 is
virtually forced. Then 13.Rfd l Ne8 14.Nd3 would approximate the Barlov
game mentioned in the note to White's l Oth move above. Either way, Black
has a defensive chore ahead.

This raises an important point about the Fianchetto Variation: It is

designed to maintain the spatial advantage White always gets in the Pirc\
Modem while reducing Black's opportunities for counterplay. If White is
successful, the middlegame begins with a familiar scenario - White has
great squares for his heavy pieces (e.g. Qd2 and Rfdl here) whereas Black
does not ( ...Rd8 and ...Rb8 here). That alone gives White an edge.

Before leaving the ...c7-c5 ideas and entering the main terrain of
the Fianchetto Var iation, we should take note of how this can arise in the
Modem Defense move orders - and how White can respond. For example,
l.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nge2 Nd7 5.g3 and now 5...a6 6.Bg2 c5
looks something like the line we just considered, except that ...a7-a6 and
...Nd7 have been inserted in place of the more forthright ...Nf6 and ... 0-0.

Here however, White may profit from 7 .dxc5! because once again
7 ...dxc5 8.f4 favors White, and because the more normal 7 ...Nxc5 runs into
trouble after 8.Be3 Bd7 9.Bd4! as in Jansa-Nikolic, Smederevska
Palanka 1980. This inhibits Black's development because 9... Nf6 allows
10.e5.
 Beating The Pirc/Modern With The Fianchetto Variation 16

l.ILLUSTRATIVE GAME
(1) Short- Donner, Amsterdam 1982

The opening of this game is far from flawless. Both players make
instructive errors but it is White who then demonstrates a better under­
standing of the resulting position.

1. e4 d6
2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 g6
4. Nge2 Bg7
5. g3 0-0
6. Bg2 e5
7. 0-0?!

As we11 see in the next chapter, more exact i s 7. h3, preparing to

support d4 with Be3. Now 7 ... Nc6 8.Be3? Ng4! would favor Black.

7. exd4?!
8. Nxd4 Nc6
9. Nde2!

This retreat avoids an exchange of Knights that would free Black's

game (... Nxd4 and ... Bd7-c6) and also prepares an effective Nd5. That ad-
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 17

vance i s common to such positions but i s most effective only when ...Nxd5
and exd5 will leave White with a surviving Knight that can take up resi­
dence on d4.

9. ... Re8
10. h3 Nd7
1 1 . Kh2 Nb6
12. a4 aS
13. b3!

After this Black has virtually no center or Queenside counterplay.

The two White Knights protect themselves well and thereby give White
time to develop his Queen Bishop, Queen Rook, and Queen. Black has no
prospect for changing the pawn structure except at the high risk of
... t7-f5?!. This absence of Black counterplay is reflected in his floundering
in the next five moves.
In some openings this absence is not serious. But let's repeat our
earlier message: In the Fianchetto Variation, White begins most middle­
games with a spatial advantage. Given enough time, he will post his heavy
pieces on much more effective squares than Black and eventually open the
center for them. Black absolutely needs something to distract his opponent

13. Nb4
14. Be3 Nd7
15. Qd2 NcS
16. Rad1 Qe7
17. Rfel Nca6?!
18. Nf4 Bd7
19. NfdS Qd8
20. BgS! f6
21. Be3

Having forced the creation of a target at f6, White has time to re-
position.

21. Bc6
22. Bd4 Bd7
23. Be3 NxdS
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 18

24. NxdS b6?

A blunder that violates one of the cardinal rules for Black in the
Fianchetto Variation: Thou shalt safeguard the g2-a8 diagonal. White now
opens a discovered attack on the Queen Rook (2S.e5 fxeS 26.Bg5 Qb8
27.Ne7ch or 27.Nf6ch).

25. eS! RxeS

26. Nxb6! cxb6
27. Qxd6

Remember White usually gets to place his heavy pieces more ag­
gressively than Black in the Fianchetto Variation - Rooks often at dl and
e l and Queen at d2 - so when the center is swept away by tactical means,
Black is often at their mercy. Here the threats of 28.Bxa8 and 28.Qxd7
are crushing (27 ...Ra7 28.Bxb6).

27. Rxe3
28. Rxe3 Ra7
29. Re7 Nb8

A sad comment on Black's Knights in this game.

30. Qe6ch! Black Resigns

Since 3 1 .Rxd7 and 32.Re8ch will be more than sufficient

 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 19

CHAPTER TWO
Black Battles For d4 With •••Nc6

In the last chapter we fmmd how quickly Black can land in a pas­
sive state after such nonnally aggressive moves -aggressive, that is, in the
Sicilian Defense - as c7-c5xd4, ...a7-a6, ... Qc7, and ... Nbd7. In this chapter
we'll examine one of the most ambitious plans involving ...e7-e5. Instead
of maneuvering his way out of the first ten moves, Black initiates a frontal
attack on d4 with his Queen Knight.

1. e4 d6
2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 g6
4. Nge2

One of the many subtleties of the Fianchetto Variation arises after

the transpositional 4.Be3. This move appears to head the game into one of
those attacking plans fashionable in the 1950's, e.g.4.Be3 Bg7 5.f3 0-0
6.Qd2 followed by Bh6 and h2-h4-h5, or g2-g4-g5.

Because of the success of that primitive mating plan, Black began

in the 1 960's to delay castling in favor of his own counterattack with 4 ... c6
and 5 ... b5. However after 4... c6, White can switch plans with 5.h3 followed
by 6.g3, 7.Bg2 and 8.Nge2.

What has then happened? White has transfonned the opening

back into one of our key lines- but has tricked Black into playing ... c7-c6
instead of the kind of position we will examine in this chapter.

The same thing can happen in the Modem Defense move order,
e.g. l .e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.g3 ! ?, since 5 ...b5 6.Bg2 Bb7
7.Nge2 leads to a slight White edge because of the vulnerability of Black's
Queenside to moves like a2-a4 or Nd5 or a weU prepared e4-e5.

Best for Black is actually 5 ... Nf6 6.Bg2 Nc6! as in our Illustrative
Game Three. The move ... a7-a6 is not as useless then as it may appear. In
fact, it will appear in different guises in our various sub-variations below,
mixed in with ... Bd7, ...Re8, and of course, ... Nc6.
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 20

4. ... Bg7

One of the advantages of 4.Nge2 over 4.g3 is that the latter - in

the Pirc move order - could be met by 4 ... Bg4!?, since 5.Nge2? would be
mangled by 5 ...Bf3 ! . White would have to play something inconvenient
instead, sQch as 5.Nf3 (or 5.f3?! or 5.Qd3).

In the Modem Defense move order when Black delays ... Nf6,
there is nothing to support ... Bg4, so there seems to be less reason for
White to be careful. However, this is not entirely true ( l .e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7
3.Nc3 d6 4.g3 Nc6!? 5.Nge2 Bg4!). For this reason, we prefer delaying
g2-g3 as White until the fifth or sixth move.

5. g3 0-0

Here 5 ... c5 is an obscure but also unfortunate option. The reason

is that with moves like Nge2 (instead of the more aggressive Nf3) White
has built maximum piece protection into his position. Therefore 6.dxc5 !
has to be strong since 6...dxc5 7.Qxd8ch leads to a favorable endgame, and
since 6... Qa5 ! ?, which works well in similar positions, lacks bite here be­
cause the target c3 square is so well covered.

White can simply play 7.cxd6! Nxe4 8.Qd5 as in Geller-Murey,

Moscow 1989. White got the upper hand quickly via 8 ... Nc5 9.dxe7 Bd7
10.Nd4 Nc6 l l .Ndb5 Ne6 1 2.Bd2 Qb4 13.0-0-0, and yet somehow Black
won, but it was no thanks to the opening.

6. Bg2 eS
7. h3

Once again we must point out how essential this minor precaution
is by White. It's remarkable how quickly White can get into trouble after
7.Be3? Ng4.
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 21

So you might wonder, what's wrong with 7 .0-0? Mter 7 ...Nbd7

Black has no immediate pressure on the White center and the first player
can do as he wishes. An early example of this was DeFlrmlan-Kestler,
Baden Baden 1981, in which White took time out to fianchetto his other
Bishop with 8.b3 !? Re8 9.Bb2 and obtained a fine game after 9 ... exd4
10.Nxd4 Nc5 l l .Rel c6 12.Qd2.

This resembles some quiet variations of the King's Indian Defense

in which Black tries to obtain Queenside pressure with ...Qb6 and
...a7-a5-a4. However that strategy makes little sense here, since b3 is rock
solid. Kestler continued 1 2...Qb6 13.h3 Be6?! 14.Radl Rad8, but was sur­
prised by the strength of 15.Nxe6! (15 ...Rxe6 16.e5! dxe5?? 17.Qxd8ch).

Black bad to make the ugly recapture 15 ...fxe6 after which

16.Qg5 ! threatened 17.e5 and led to 16...e5 17.Qd2 Rf8 18.Rfl with a clear
positional advantage for White.

The real problem with 7.0-0 is that it loses a tempo in the impend­
ing battle for control of d4. After 7.0-0 Black's best is 7 ...Nc6! and White
does not have time to secure his center with 8.Be3 Ng4.

If this were the King's Indian Defense - that is, with c2-c4 played
by White - then he could answer Black's ...Nc6 with d4-d5 followed by a
Queenside advance. Compare this position with l .d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3
Bg7 4.g3 d6 S.Bg2 .0-0 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 eS and now 8.d5 Ne7 9.c5 !? is
promising. But in the Pirc Defense position, White hasn't the time to en­
gineer c2-c4-c5 and therefore he doesn't have a particularly impressive
middlegame idea. In Kljk-Karner, Tallin 1989, White got a serviceable
position from 8.d5 Ne7 9.b3 c6!? (9 ...Ne8 !) IO.Bg5 h6 l l .Bxf6, but this
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 22

was an aberration.

That leaves only one plan left for White after 7.0-0?! Nc6! and
that is 8.dxe5 dxe5! 9.Bg5.

In the early 1980's this postt:ton occurred from time to time

through White's carelessness. In the comparable position from the King's
Indian, Black obtains equality by using the d4 square for his pieces and
attacking the White pawn on c4 (with ...Be6). Here, those factors are not
present.

However, Black is doing quite nicely after 9...Be6 nevertheless,

e.g.10.Qxd8 Rfxd8 ll.Rfdl h6 is a dead even endgame and 10.Nd5 Bxd5
ll.exd5 Ne7 12.c4 h6 is a roughly equal middlegame because Black has
counterplay in the form of ...Nf5 and ... e5-e4. In Speelman-Sznapik,
Dortmund 1981, White tried lO.Qcl with the idea of ll.Rdl, but Black
took faster action with 10 ...Nd4! ll.Nxd4 Qxd4 12.Rdl Qc5 13.h3 c6 and
... Rad8.

All this means is that White can avoid a lot of headaches by re­
membering to play 7.h3!. Returning to that move and our main line:

7. ... Nc6
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 23

Black ultimately will exchange pawns on d4, but he must time it

accurately. The immediate 7 ... exd4?! 8.Nxd4 helps White out too easily,
e.g. 8 ...Re8 9.0-0 Nc6 and now IO.Nde2 as in the Short-Donner game from
the last chapter, or IO.Be3 should give White an edge, but IO.Nxc6 bxc6
l l .e5? dxe5 1 2.Bxc6 Rb8 offers nothing.

We prefer the Knight retreat at move ten, e.g. IO.Nde2 Nd7

l l .g4 !? Nc5 1 2.Be3 Be6 1 3.Ng3 Bc4 14.Rel and Black has run out of
counterplay ideas. In Markovlc-Polibroniade, Smederevska Palanka
1985, Black was soon in full retreat ( 14... a5? ! 15.Qd2 Be6 16.Radl Ne5
1 7.b3 Nc6 1 8.f4 f6 19.Nb5 Qe7 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21 .Bxd4 Rad8 22.f5).

Similarly, 9 ... Nbd7 IO.Rel a5 l l .Ndb5 ! Nc5 and now 1 2.e5! is

our Illustrative Game Two.

Bear in mind that White is in no rush to exchange on e5 either.

After 8.dxe5? in the diagram, Black is at least equal with 8 ...dxe5. What
this means is that the pawn structure now established is something that
neither player will rush into changing: White usually gets little from an
early d4-d5 and less from an early dxe5 and Black has to have a good rea­
son to play ... exd4. Therefore, the focus of the next few moves is on devel­
oping moves.

In subsequent chapters we will examine other methods for Black

to develop his Queenside (7 ... Nbd7, 7 ...c6, etc.). Here we'll concentrate on
7 ... Nc6. It's advantages are clear: The Knight is aggressively placed and
the center is under pressure. The disadvantages include lack of scope for
Black's Queen, which can't get to the Queens�de now by way of ...c7-c6.
 Beating The Pirc/Modern With The Fianchetto Variation 24

8. Be3

No credit for anything else. Now the road diverges into different
paths: (a) 8 ...exd4, (b) 8 ...b6, (c) 8 ... Re8, and (d) 8 ... Bd7.

(a)
Opening the center with 8...exd4.
9. Nxd4

These positions were dismissed as clearly in White's favor about

1980, but the tactical advantages that now accrue to Black cannot be
minimized.

9. ... Bd7

Here, or on the next move, there is much to be said for losing a

little time with Nde2!, but let's examine what happens when White contin­
ues naturally.

10. 0-0 ReS

Black's pieces look a bit passive, but actually he has a number of

ways of enlivening the position. Most of them involve some attack on the
e4-pawn and the use of the Rook on e8. For example, a random move such
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 25

as 1 1 .a4 can be met by 1 l ...Nxd4 12.Bxd4 a5 13.Re1 Bc6 14.Qd2 Re6! and
Black has sufficient counterplay as in Gufeld-Glpslls, Volgagrad 1985.

Grandmaster practice has recommended:

1 1. Ret Qc8
12. Kh2 ReS!?

This idea appeared i n the games of Gennady Zaichik around

1988-89. Black announces his intention to deliver mate around h3 with
...Rh5. As primitive as this seems. it is difficult to refute. On 13.g4, Black
will not shrink from playing 1 3 ... Bxg4 14.hxg4 Nxg4ch 1 5.Kg1 Nxe3
16.fxe3 with compensation for the missing piece, and 13.f4? Rh5 just plays
into Black's hands.

The position seems to call out for 13.Nde2 and 14.Nf4. For some
reason, the only major experience with this variation has seen:

13. Nxc6!? bxc6!

In the stem game Prandstetter-Zalchlk, Tblllsl 1988, White

quickly got the worst of it with 14.f3 Re8 15.Qd2 Rb8 16.Rabl c5. An im­
provement is:

14. g4!

Now the sacrifice on g4 is unsound, 14 ... Bxg4 15.hxg4 Nxg4ch

16.Kg1 Nxe3 17.Rxe3. To anticipate 15.Bd4, Black has tried:

14. ••. ReS

And now in Vogt-Zakhlk, Berlin 1989, Black won after 15.f4

Rb8 16.Rb1 c5 17.Bgl ?! h6 1 8.e5? dxe5 19.fxe5 Ng7 20.Qd5 Ng7!. Better
is 17.Bf2!, after which the plan of 18.e5 is sounder, since White can sup­
port the e-pawn with a subsequent Bg3.
The verdict is not in on 8 ... exd4, but in light of White's ability to
retreat the d4 Knight effectively to e2 (moves 10., 1 1 ., etc.), it makes more
sense for Black to delay exchanging on d4 until he can effectively follow it
with an exchange of Knights as well.
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 26

(b) Counter Fianchetto: 8 b6 ...

(After l.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nge2 Bg7

5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 0-0 7.h3 e5 8.Be3).

This was considered the main alternative to the 7... Nc6 line for
most of the 1980's and still enjoys a good, perhaps undeserved reputation
today. Black doesn't have an obviously best place to plant his Bishop, and
at least on b7 its coordination with the other pieces will be a bit more fluid
than on d7.

9. 0-0 Bb7

We are getting closer to a resolution of the pressure in the center.

It may seem that now is the time for White to play IO.d5, because it will
put the question to Black's last two moves. For example, 10...Ne7 ll.Qd2
Qd7 12.a4 c6 (Krnlc-Franko, Vrnjacka Banja 1983) after which White
can obtain an edge with 13.a5!.

Note however, that White needs only one target at a time. If after
10...Ne7, he turns to the Kingside with l l.f4, Black gets counterplay with
l l...exf4! 12.gxf4 c6. In Valser-Zalcblk, Volgadonsk 1983 Black even
obtained a superior position with 13.dxc6 Nxc6 14.Qd2 Re8 15.f5 (or
15.Radl Na5 intending 16 ... Nxe4 or 16...Nc4)...Ne5 16.Bg5 Nc4 17.Qcl
b5!.

10. Rel
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 27

As usual, we follow our rule of thumb: White should be in no rush

to change the pawn structure, because right now he enjoys an edge in
space. The natural expansion of his heavy pieces (Qd2 and Radl) should
favor him, since Black doesn't have the same kind of maneuvering space.

10. Re8
1 1 . Qd2

We are following Hort-Nunn, Wijk aan Zee 1983, in which

Black fmmd no better policy than to shadow White's heavy pieces with
ll...Qd7 12.Radl Rad8. However, White was then ready to release the
center tension with 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.b3 Qc8 15.Bg5!, with an advantage
that should have grown even greater after 15...Ned7 16.Nd5!.

If instead, Black liquidates with l l...exd4 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.Bxd4

c5, White can safely play 14.Be3, because of 14 ...Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Bxe4
16.Bg5 or 14 ...Bxe4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Qd5.
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 28

(c)
Holding the Fort with 8...Re8
(After l.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nge2 Bg7
5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 e5 7.h3 Nc6 8.Be3)

This move makes a good deal of sense - unless White finds the
right moment to advance his d-pawn. Then the Black Rook would be better
placed at f8, to support ... f7-f5.

If Black goes for the ...f7-f5 break immediately, he finds the cen­
ter too fluid for comfort: 8 ...Ne8 9.0-0 f5 and now 10.f4!? favored White in
GaiUamova-Arribas, Adelaide 1988 (10...exd4 ll.Nxd4 fxe4 12.Nxe4
Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Qe7 14.Rel).

9. 0-0 a6

10. a4

This appears to be an over-reaction to Black's "threat" to play

IO ...b5. The advance of White's a-pawn gives Black's Knight a good square
atb4.

More accurate is 10.Qd2 or IO.d5. Just to show what can happen

if White plays slightly inaccurately, let's continue with 1 O.a4.
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 29

10 • ... exd4!

Black can't wait forever. After 10. ..Bd7?, White gets a great game
with l l .dS! . Then l l . .. Ne7 12. Qd2 or 12.f4 exf4 13.Nxf4
(Djurbuus-Watson, Oslo 1991) or even 12 a5! . insures at least a slight
edge for White.

1 1. Nxd4 Bd7

Black can also try to exploit White's l Oth move with l l ...Nb4, e.g.
12.Qd2 Bb7 and 13 ...c5!. But the text move retains the possibility of
...Na5-c4.

12. Ret?!

This rook move is another natural move that may, however, not be
best. With 12.Nde2! White avoids the exchange of pieces on d4 and al­
lows himself to reorganize his pieces with Nf4 and a later Qd2. For exam­
ple, 12.Nde2 Nb4 1 3.Nf4 a5 14.Rel Bc6 15.Bd4 Re7 16.Qd2 foUowed by
doubling Rooks on the e-fde (Mohr-Kosten, A ltenstelg 1989).

12. .•. NaS

Another strategy is 12 ... Nxd4 foUowed by 13 ...c5 and 14 ... Bc6 as

in Illustrative Game Three.

13. Qd3
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 30

Better than 13.b3 c5! and 14... Bc6, which leaves White's e-pawn
as weak as Black's d-pawn. The ... c7-c5 idea is common to King's Indian
Defense positions and often leads to a Black advantage, e.g. 13.g4? c5!
14.Nde2 Bc6 15.Ng3 Qb6 16.Rb1 Nc4 as in Wockenfuss-Piaskett,
Lugano 1986.

After 13.Qd3, Black's natural continuation is 13 ...c5 14.Nde2 Bc6

15.Rad l when White is one move away from turning the focus from his
e-pawn to Black's d-pawn (with Bg5 and Nf4 coming up). But we prefer to
improve at move 10 or 12.

(d)
The Quiet 8 Bd7 ...

(After l.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nge2 Bg7

5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 e5 7.h3 Nc6 8.Be3).

This may easily transpose into positions that arise after 8 .. Re8
. or
8 ...a6, since all three moves are common to most of Black's middlegame
plans. The Bishop has no better square at present than d7 and this is one
reason why Black's position is regarded as uncomfortable .

9. 0-0 a6

And this last move by Black could also have been played at move
eight. For example, 8 ...a6 9.a4 exd4 10.Nxd4 Nb4 is reasonable for Black ­
but not 10... Ne5, because the Knight wil be ousted ( ll.Qe2 Re8 12.0-0 Bd7
13.Rad1 Qc8 14.Kh2 and 15.f4 as in Soyeur-Todorcevic, Strasbourg
1985/86).

Is Black really threatening 10...b5 here, or does he just want to

keep White pieces off of b5? After 10.a4 we will most likely transpose into
positions considered in section (c) above.

10. f4
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 31

This is the most ambitious plan for White and considerably better
than 10. Qd2?, which allows IO...Qc8! 11.Kh2 exd4 12.Nxd4 Ne5 with
excellent play (13... Nc4). By adding the f-pawn to the attack on e5, White
tries to take advantage of Black's inability to defend e5 with ... Nd7.

10. ... exd4

Black generally finds himself forced to exchange on d4 when

White advances his f-pawn in the Fianchetto Variation. If White is allowed
to expand with l l.dxe5 dxe5 12.f5 or 1l.fxe5 dxe5 12.d5, Black is left
with a difficult middlegame.

1 1 . Nxd4 Re8
12. Qd2

Better than 12.Re1 as in Illustrative Game Three. The el is square

left for White's other Rook and the f2 square provides a safe haven for the
Bishop when attacked by ... c7-c5. For example, 12 ... Nxd4 13.Bxd4 c5
14.Bf2! Bc6 is the thematic plan for Black, but here White can answer it
with 15.Rael.
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 32

ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES

(2) Timoshchenko-Dorfman, Moscow GMA 1989

This relatively simple game shows how important it is for Black

to be accurate about the timing of . ..exd4. A move too early and it can
plunge him into a passive - if not lost -position.

1. e4 g6
2. d4 Bg7
3. Nc3 d6
4. g3

As noted earlier, White may vary his move order here in order to
avoid problems arising after 4 . ...Nc6!?.

4. Nf6
5. Nge2 e5
6. Bg2 0-0
7. h3 exd4

As in comparable King's Indian positions, this surrender of the

center is rarely neutral: It either allows Black immediate counterplay or it
leaves White with a permanent space advantage. By exchanging on d4,
Black opens the diagonal of his ftanchettoed Bishop and creates a target at
e4.

8. Nxd4 ReS

But the e-pawn is the .only real target in the White camp and
Black must be careful about how he goes after it. The more King's In­
dian-like 8 ...Nbd7 9.0-0 Nc5 is not energetic enough and usually puts
White on top.For example, l O.Re l Re8 ll.Bf4 Nfd7 12.b3 and in Pop·
ovlc-Popchev, Moscow 1989, Black ran out of ideas with 12 .. Nf8?!
.
13. Qd2 Bd7 14.Bg5 f6 15.Be3.

9. 0-0 Nbd7
10. Ret aS
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 33

1 1. NdbS! NcS?

White's 11th move is another familiar interloper from the realm of

the King's Indian. It avoids a possible later simplifying ...Nxd4 that so
often frees Black's game and at the same time is better than Nde2, because
it exploits Black's lOth move by restricting the movements of Black's
Queen, now tied to the defense of c7.

Black's choices are not broad after 11.Ndb5, but the move chosen
is a blunder. White now gets the chance to make the kind of simplifying
stroke that so often dooms Black in the Fianchetto Variation.

12. eS! dxeS

13. Qxd8 Rxd8
14. Nxc7 Rb8
1 5. RxeS b6
16. Re2? Ne6

White's advantage is obvious, but it would have been more secure

had he played the more accurate 16.Rel and if 16...Bf5 then 17.Re2. Nev­
ertheless, his road to victory begins with dominating the open d-file, after
which the trade of Rooks will enable his King to support the creation of a
Queenside passed pawn. Now 17.Nxe6?! Bxe6 18.Bf4 Rbc8 leaves Black
breathing.

17. N7b5 Ba6

18. Rd2! Nd7
 Beating The Fire/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 34

19. Bfi Bb7

20. Rdl

The idea now is 2l .Be3 followed by untangling White's pieces. It

shouldn't take much now for White to re-establish a winning game, but he
gets into some trouble with inexact play.

20. Ne5
21. f4! Nf3ch
22. Kf2 Rxdl
23. Nxdl Rd8
24. Ndc3?! Nc5?

An error. With 24...Nfd4 ! hitting c2, Black may equalize. White

could have avoided this problem with the preferable 24.Be3 ! and only after
24... Nd2 should he play 24.Ndc3.

25. Be3 Nd2

26. Bxc5 bxcS
27. Bd3 hS

And here 27 ...c4 allows a speedy conclusion beginning with

28.Rd l!. Now the endgame becomes a battle between the pawn-up White
Knights and Black's fine Bishops.

28. Ret c4
29. Rdl cxd3
30. Rxd2 Bc8
31. h4 BfS
32. a4!
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 35

32. ..
. Kf8?

This makes matters relatively easy, although it seems to speed the

Black King's rescue of the threatened a-pawn. A stouter defense is pro­
vided by 32...Bf8 and then 33.cxd3 Rxd3 34.Rxd3 Bxd3 35.Ke3 Bc4 - al­
though the White King can reach the Queenside first - 36.Kd4 Bb3 37.Na7
Bg7ch 38.Kc5 Bxc3 39.bxc3 Bxa4 40.Kb6 Kg7 41.Kxa5 Bd7 42.Nb5 Kf6
43.Nd4! - according to Max Dlugy.

33. cxd3 Rxd3

34. Rxd3 Bxd3
35. Ke3 80

Compared with the line cited above, now 35...Bc4 allows 36.Nd6
Bb3 37.Nb7! Bxc3 38.bxc3 and 39.Nxa5.

36. Nd4 Bg2

37. Nb3! Ke7
38. NxaS Kd6
39. Nc4ch KcS
40. NeS
...shuts out a key Bishop and establishes a won game.

40. f6
41. Nxg6 Bh3
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 36

42. Ne7 f5
43. Kd3 Bfich
44. Kd2 Bh3
45. Ned5 Bd4
46. Ne3 Black Resigns.

(3) Hyrne-Christiansen, U.S. Championship

Berkeley 1984

This game is the appropriate contrast to the previous one. Black

obtains counterplay only because of ...exd4. The game also shows the
... c7-c5 and ... Bc6 plan working to perfection for Black, who temporarily
sacrifices the d-pawn to obtain terrific counterplay against the e-pawn.

1. e4 g6
2. d4 Bg7
3. Nc3 d6
4. Be3 a6
5. g3

There doesn't appear to be any way of taking advantage of White's

plan of 4.Be3 followed by a delayed fianchetto.

5. Nf6
6. Bg2 Nc6
7. h3 0-0
8. Nge2 e5
9. 0-0 Bd7
10. f4 exd4!
1 1. Nxd4 Re8
12. Re1

As noted earlier, 1 2.Qd2 is more appropriate here, clearing the

way for Rae I !.
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 37

12. ... Nxd4

13. Bxd4 cS!

An excellently timed stroke. Now if White declines the offer with

14.Bt2 Bc6 15.Qd2, Black can sit on the position with 15...Qc7 and
16 ...Rad8. His backward d-pawn is not as much of a liability as it then
seems.

14. Bxf6 Bxf6

15. Qxd6 Bd4ch
16. Kh2 Re6
17. QdS Rb6!

Black has so much pressure in return for the sacrificed pawn that
he could secure an equal endgame with 17...Bc6 18.Qxd8 Rxd8, e.g.
19.Radl Red6 20.e5 Bxc3! 21.exd6 Bxe l 22.Bxc6 bxc6.

Black is playing for more than equality with his last move
(17...Rb618.Rabl Bxc3!).

18. Ne2 Bc6

19. Qxd8ch Rxd8
20. Nxd4 Rxd4
21. b3 Rd2

The powerful Rooks give Black the upper hand (22.c4 a5 23.Redl
Rb2 24.Rdbl Rxg2ch!), but White's next move is something of a blunder
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 38

that allows Black's b6-Rook to re-enter the game with powerful effect

22. Racl? Rb4

23. Kgl Rbd4!
24. Bhl

An ugly move, but there was no other way to engineer a reduction

of pieces by way of e4-e5.

24. ... Kf8

25. e5 Bxhl
26. Kxhl Ke7
27. Kgl h5!

Black intends to soften the enemy Kingside with ...h5-h4xg3, and

White can hardly stop him with 28.h4, because then Black's King invades
on the light squares f5 and g4.

28. Re3 h4
29. c3 Rd8
30. a4

Or 30.g4 R8d3 and the pawns at a2, b3, c3, f4, and ultimately e5
are all targets. White can't protect them all.

30. ... hxg3

 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 39

31. Rxg3 Ke6

32. Rfl R8d3!
33. Rg5 Rxc3
34. f5ch gxf5
35. Rgxf5 Rg3ch
36. Khl Rxh3ch
37. Kgl Rg3ch
38. Khl Rdl !

Forcing a favorable trade of Rooks, after which Black doesn't need

his King to decide the issue.

39. Rf6ch Kxe5

40. Rxdl Kxf6
41. Rd6ch Kg7
42. Rb6 c4!
43. bxc4 Rc3
44. Rb4 aS
45. Rb5 b6!
46. Rxb6 Rxc4
47. Ra6 Rxa4
48. Kg2 Ral

White Resigns
 Beating The Pirc/Modern With The Fianchetto Variation 40

CHAPTER THREE

Black Reinforces The Center With

The Flexible 7...Nbd7

The more traditional way for Black to handle the Fianchetto

Variation - more orthodox than ...Nc6 and ...exd4 - is to reinforce the key
e5 point with ... Nbd7, followed by moves such as ...Re8 and ... c7-c6 or
... b7-b6.

In this manner he can exert eventual pressure on the enemy

e-pawn (after ... exd4) without having to resort to the c7-c5 idea we saw in
chapter two. Also there are fewer 7 ... Nbd7 sub-variations in which Black
has to fear d4-d5, as we saw with 7... Nc6. Nevertheless, the more con­
stricted nature of 7 ...Nbd7 gives White a freer hand than we saw in the last
chapter.

1. e4 d6
2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 g6
4. Nge2 Bg7
5. g3 0-0
6. Bg2

Despite all the attention directed towards d5 by White, Black can

still try to push his d-pawn two squares. For example, 6... c6 (feinting at
7 ... b5) 7.a4 d5?!. However, then 8.e5! gives White a solid space edge -
8... Ne8 9.0-0 followed by N f4 (and perhaps Nce2 and c2-c3). Mter the
inevitable .. f7-f6, White will exchange pawns on f6 and then exploit the
.

e-file and e6 square.

6. ... e5

Because White's K.ingside pieces are somewhat passively placed -

poised for a slow positional middlegame, rather than a whiz-bang mating
attack - the endgame that arises from 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 or 8.Bg5 Qxdl
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 41

is nothing for Black to worry about. In contrast with 7...c5 positions, when
the c5 pawn becomes a target after 8.dxc5, White has no major targets in
the 6... e5 7 .dxe5 ending.

7. h3 Nbd7

8. 0-0

You will sometimes see White playing the immediate 8.Be3 here.
The best reason for this is to allow him to recapture on d4, after ... exd4,
with a Bishop. The Bishop, which can no longer be harassed by ... Nc6, can
be very helpful to White on d4 for tactical reasons, such as meeting ... Nc5
with e4-e5.

But the drawback to recapturing ... exd4 I Bxd4, as we'll see in

some detail later on, is the fact that the Bishop has only one retreat square
then, and it's e3.
This makes the ... c7-c5 idea occasionally effective even with
... Nbd7, such as after 8.Be3 exd4 9.Bxd4 Nb6!? 10.0-0 Bd7 l l .Qd3 and
now in Chandler-Ftacnlk, Vrsac 1981, Black equalized with l l...c5!
12.Be3 Bc6 13.Radl ReS 14.b3 Qc7 15.Qxd6 Qxd6 16.Rxd6 Nxe4. It's
been said that a Knight is always badly placed on b6, but the Fianchetto
Variation may be the exception !

After 8.0-0, Black's path diverges and we'll consider the different
routes in some detail: (a) 8 .. .c6, (b) 8 ... Re8, (c) 8. . . b6, and (d) 8...exd4.
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 42

(a)
Make Believe it's a King's Indian with 8 . . .c6
This was very fashionable at the Grandmaster level in the early
1 980's, but then it was discovered that Black may do better with ... c7-c6 in
connection with ... Na6! ?. That variation is considered in Chapter Four.

The move 8 ...c6 does several useful things and that is why it is
fairly automatic in the comparable positions of the King's Indian Defense.
Black's Queen can now take up residence on c7, b6, or a5. He also may
threaten to gain valuable terrain with 9 ... b5.

Whenever you see a hole created like the one at d6, there is the
temptation to open a direct line to it, such as with 9.dxe5. But this is usu­
ally a positional error which often leaves Black with better control of the
center than White. He gets the use of c5 for his minor pieces, whereas it is
difficult for White to occupy any new outposts, least of all d6.

For example, 9.dxe5?! dxe5 1 0.Be3 Re8 1 1.a4 b6 1 2.Qd3 a5 !

13.Rfd1 Ba6 14.Qd2 Bf8 15.Nc1 Nc5 with a good game for Black in Sy­
dor-Dorfman, Warsaw 1983.

9. a4

It was once thought that White's game would be too strong if he is allowed
to play 1 0.a5, but considerable doubt has since been placed on that as­
sumption. Black can even tum his attention towards the Kingside with
9... Qe7 10.Be3 Ne8 and ... f7-f5 here. In
Popovic-Pfleger, West Germany
1989, Black achieved sufficient counterchances after l l.Qd2 f5 1 2.exf5 gx­
f5 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.a5 e4!? 15.Na4?! Nc7 16.Nf4 Ne5 1 7.Bc5 Rd8!. White
should strike while the iron is hot and play 1 5.f3 in such positions, to ex­
ploit the potential Black problems on the e-ftle.

Another idea that often arises here is f2-f4 or g3-g4 and Ng3. Af­
ter 9... Qe7 1 0.Be3 Ne8, White has 1 1.f4 f5 (else 12.f5) 12.Re1 with dan­
gerous chances for White in the soon to disappear center. If Black prepares
the super solid 10 ...Re8, White should respond 1 1.g4 exd4 12.Bxd4 Nc5
13.Ng3 when White's pieces are well coordinated as in Kllnger-Norwood,
Bagulo 1987.
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 43

-For an example of White avoiding a2-a4 entirely, see Illustrative

Gam �
/

9. ... Qc7

Worth further examination is 9 .. .b6 and ... Ba6, an idea that has
largely escaped testing. The Bishop then has a good diagonal, but is vul­
nerable to a4-a5. After 9...b6 10.Qd2 Ba6 l l.a5, it's not at all clear what's
happening.

The most important alternative is 9 ... a5, thereby keeping White

from expanding further with 10.a5. Having committed his Knight to d7 at
move seven, Black has lost the opportunity for a quick ...Na6-b4. How se­
rious an omission is it? Let's consider some plans for White after 9.a4 a5.

If White continues to play solidly - but somewhat inexactly -

Black should be able to create counterplay with a well timed ...exd4. For
example, IO.Rel ReB l l .Be3 Qc7 1 2.Kh2 and now 12...exd4 13 .Bxd4 b6!
14.Qd2 Bb7 1 5.Radl RadB and in Kurajica-Gruenfeld, Biel 1981, Black
had no complaints (16.Ngl Nc5 17.f4 Ne6! IB.Bf2 d5 19.e5 Nd7).

If White adopts a more aggressive attitude such as 10.b3 ReB

l l .Ba3, he makes d6 a target. In Popovlc-Rakic, Novi Sad 1981, White
meandered about the middlegame, yet he managed to win soon after
l l...exd4 12.Nxd4 Nc5 1 3.Rel Qb6 14.Bb2 Bd7 15.Rbl ?! RadB 16.Kh2 h5
1 7.Qd2 BcB lB.Radl d5? 19.exd5. But the result had little to do with the
opening.
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 44

After a dozen more years of experimentation, we know that

White's Queen Bishop belongs on e3 and his King Rook does best on fl ,
where it prepares f2-f4. The Rel move that we saw so often in Chapter
Two is not always necessary to defend the e-pawn, since White can ac­
complish that with g3-g4 and Ng3.

Probably best is 10.Be3. In Sveshnlkov-Grigorian, U.S.S.R.

1981, Black went in for 10 ... exd4 l l .Bxd4 Re8, but now 12.g4! b6 1 3.Ng3
Ba6 14.Rel gave White a nice game. This is a kind of ideal piece
coordination for White.

Black's bid for counterplay with 14 ...c5 15.Be3 Ne5 16.b3 Nfx­
g4?! was easily stifled by 1 7.hxg4 Qh4 1 8.Nd5 Nxg4 19.c4! h5 20.Nfl. It
should also be noted that White need not play the weakening 1 2.g4, but
can try 12.f4 instead, because on 12 ...Nc5 (better is 12 ...b6) he has
13.Bxc5! dxc5 14.e5! with a tremendous improvement in his center.

After 10.Be3, Black should probably hold the center with

10 ... Re8. White can then increase the pressure on e5 with l l .f4 or develop
solidly with l l .Qd2 - or go for blood with g4. Solidity looks preferable be­
cause of examples such as Speelman-Nunn, England 1979, which went
l l .Qd2 Nb6 1 2.b3 exd4 1 3.Bxd4 d5? 14.exd5 Nbxd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5
1 6.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Radl Be6 1 8.Nd4! Nc7 19.Qf4 with an obvious advan­
tage.

Finally we should mention 10.Bg5 (instead of 10.Be3). This re­

stricts Black's movements a bit, but also creates counterplay against d4.
Then 10 ...Re8 l l .Qd2 is solid, although White must be careful to avoid
something such as l l ...Qb6 12.Be3? exd4! 13.Bxd4 c5 14.Be3 Ne5 15.b3
Bxh3 ! or 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 1 5.Rfdl Bd7 and ... Bc6 as in Trois-Balough,
Zalaegerszeg 1980.

10. Be3

An immediate 10.a5 a Ia Benko-Fischer, suggests itself, but no

one at the Grandmaster level seems to fear that anymore.

After 10.a5 Re8 l l .Rel Rb8 12.Be3 we would transpose into

Romanlshln-Hansen, Groningen 1991, except that in that game White's
King Knight was on f3. Play then continued 1 2...b5 1 3 .axb6 axb6 14.d5
Bb7 15.Nd2 b5 and White's edge was minor after 16.dxc6 Bxc6 1 7 .Ra7
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 45

Rb7 18.Rxb7 Qxb7 1 9.Nb3 b4.

This appears better than 12 ... exd4 13.Nxd4 Nc5 14.Bf4 Nfd7
which allows the thematic 15.Ndb5 ! sacrifice ( 1 5 ... cxb5 16.Bxd6 Qd8
17.Nxb5 as in KlrUlov-Lyutzko, Riga 1986).

10. ... Re8

An alternative is 1 0 . b6, once again intending l l...Ba6. Then

..

l l .f4 exd4 12.Nxd4 Ba6 13.Rel Rad8 enables Black to coordinate all his
pieces.

However, 14.Nxc6! ensures White a slight edge (14 ... Qxc6 1 5.e5
dS 16.exf6 Nxf6 1 7.Bd4 as in Adarm-Wolf, London 1989).

11. Rel

Also, l l .a5 comes into consideration, since l l ...exd4 12.Bxd4 Nc5 allows
the tactical device 1 3 .e5!, e.g . 1 3 ...Nfd7 14.exd6 Qxd6 15.Bxg7 followed by
b2-b4 and a favorable endgame.

With l l ...a5 we transpose back into the positions considered in

the long note to Black's ninth move. And again l l ...exd4 12.Bxd4 Nc5 is
faulty, because of the tactical device 13.e5 ! ( 1 3 ...Nfd7 14.exd6 Qxd6
15.Bxg7 Qxd1 1 6.Raxdl Kxg7 17.b4 ! Na6 1 8.b5 according to Nunn).

White can also recapture favorably on d4 with a Knight -

l l ...exd4 1 2.Nxd4 Nc5 1 3.Bf4 and now 13 ...Rd8 14.a5! or 13 ... Nh5
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 46

14.Ndb5 ! (that thematic sacrifice once more) ...cxb5 15.Bxd6 Qa5

16.axb5 ! with excellent compensation as in Romanishin-0. Rodriguez,
Barcelona 1992.

Black can hold the center in a variety of ways, but then he has a
problem with his d7-Knight, a piece that seems to get in the way wherever
it goes. For example, l l ...Nf8?! 12.a5! Ne6 is clumsy and after 1 3 .d5! Nf8
14.Qd2 there is no comfortable defense to the simple plan of Radl and dx­
c6. In Nunn-POeger, Plovdlv 1983, White was clearly better after
14... cxd5 1 5.exd5 Bd7 16.Na4 Bxa4 1 7.Rxa4 N8d7 18.b3.
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 47

(b)
Aiming at e4 with 8... Re8

(After l .e4 d6 2.d4 N f6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nge2 Bg7

5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 e5 7.h3 Nbd7 8.0-0)

The Rook move is now regarded as slightly more accurate than

8 ...c6, a move that can be delayed or even replaced with ... a7-a6. Black
sometimes leaves the Rook available for duty at d8, e.g. 8...Qe7 9.Be3 Rd8
and now IO.Rel c6 l l .a4 b6 1 2.Qd2 Bb7 13.f4 ! gives White a Kingside
initiative. In Chernin-Bilek, Copenhagen 1984 he won swiftly following
13 ... a6?! 14.g4 exf4 15.Nxf4 h6 16.Nd3 Kh7 17.Qf2 Ne8 18.Rfl Kg8
19.Rael Nc7 20.e5.

9. Be3

This is probably most accurate. Formerly 9.R e l was played, but

that permits Black to approach equality with an exchange on d4, e.g.
9...exd4 10.Nxd4 Nc5 l l.Bf4 Ne6.

Black can also play enterprisingly on the Queenside with 9 ...a6

10.a4 Rb8 l l .Be3 and now l l ...exd4 1 2.Bxd4 c5! 1 3.Be3 Ne5 1 4 .Qcl b5!
as in Tseshkovsky-Benjamln, Wljk aan Zee 1989. White would prefer to
be in a position where Bxd4 is an option.

Now on 9... exd4, White has 1 0.Bxd4! after which 10...Nc5 is once
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 48

again punished by l l .e5!. Not much better is 1O...Nb6 which misplaces

,

the Knight and leaves White with a free hand for a Kingside attack - l l .g4
h6? 12.Ng3 Bd7 13.Qd3 c5? (Now this is only weakening) 14.Be3 Be6
15.b3 Nfd7 16.Qd2 Kh7 17.Radl a6 18.a4 Qc7 19.a5 ! Nc8 20.Nf5! gxf5
21.exf5 and White won soon in London-Orfalea, U.S. Junior Champion­
ship.

Even the more accurate 10...a6 and l l ...c5 fails here: 10...a6 l l .f4
c5 12.Bf2 Qc7 13.g4! Nb6 14.Qd3 Bd7 15.Rad l Bc6 16.Qxd6 Qxd6
17.Rxd6 Nc4 and now 18.Rxc6! bxc6 19.e5 Nd5 20.Nxd5 cxd5 21.Bxd5
won quickly in Rachels-D. Gurevich, U.S. Championship, Long Beach
1989.

9. ... b6

Naturally 9 ... c6 will head back into section (a) after 10.a4 a5. The
fianchetto of Black's Queen Bishop is a logical plan, since White will have
second thoughts about 10.d5. The chief alternative is 9... a6 10.a4 exd4 af­
ter which l l .Bxd4 Rb8! ? prepares to push the b-pawn. Mter 12.Ba7 Ra8
13.Bd4 Rb8 14.f4 (Shipman-Watson, U.S. Open 1983), Black strikes
back with 14... c5! 15.Bf2 b5.

10. g4

This plan now appears preferable to 10.d5, which was recom­

mended in Batsford Chess Openings on the basis of the game
Gufeld-Torre, Baku 1980, which went 10...Bb7 l l .Qd2 Bf8? 12.f4! c6
13.f5 with a giant spatial edge on the Kingside. Playing for ... c7-c6 looks
incorrect, but there have been few tests of other moves after 10.d5, such as
IO . Ba6.
. .
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 49

The thinking behind 1 0.g4 is two-fold. White can now protect his
e-pawn and solve the problem of what to do with his e2-Knight with Ng3.
Also he may eventually threaten to push to g5 attacking the Black Knight
that does not have a good retreat square.

After 10 ...exd4 l l .Bxd4! Bb7 12.Ng3 or 10 ... Ba6 l l .Rel , White

is better. The most dangerous response to 10.g4 is 10 ... h5, before White
has gotten his Kingside house in order. However, l l .g5 Nh7 12.h4 Bb7
1 3.Qd2 f6 14.f4!, as in a 1982 Mlles-Kavalek game, also leaves White on
top.
 Beating The Pirc/Modern With The Fianchetto Variation 50

(c)
Counter-Fianchetto Again: 8 b6 ...

(After l .e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nge2 Bg7

5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 eS 7.h3 Nbd7 8.0-0)

Beginning the counter-fianchetto at move eight makes more sense

than at move nine, but the outlook is not much different than that of the
8 ...Re8 / 9...b6 positions.

9. Be3 Bb7

Now 10.g4 ReS will transpose exactly into the previous section.

10. d5!?
Stifling the enemy Bishop. This i s effective i f Black tries to break
the center open with 10... Qb8 (protecting d6) l l .Qd2 c6 and then 1 2.dxc6
Bxc6 13.Radl, e.g. 1 3 ...Ne8 14.Nd5 or 13 ...Qb7 14.Qxd6 Rad8 15.Qd3
Nc5 16.Qxd8.

The problem with lO.dS is that it tends to eliminate some of

White's best plans without creating new ones. White will be reluctant, for
example, to rush into f2-f4 now because ...exf4 gives Black good play on
the dark squares.

10. .. . a5
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 51

The one Queenside option White retained with 1 0.d5 was a

general pawn advance with b2-b4 and c2-c4-c5. This explains Black's lOth
move.

11. Qd2

Now 1 1 . ... Re8 12.a3 a4 was played in Dementlev-Movsesian, Erevan

1982, but White was then able to exploit the Queenside with 13.Rfdl Nc5
14.Nc l ! Bf8 1 5.Na2 Qd7 16.Nb4, eventually followed by Nc6!.

More testing would be l l ...Ne8, preparing 1 2 .. .f5 and challenging

White to play 12.g4 ! . The consequences of 12 ... f5 1 3.gxf5 gxf5 14.exf5
Rxf5 1 5.Ng3 and 16.Nce4 are in White's favor, since Black's b7-Bishop is
misplaced. This places the move 8 ..b6 under a cloud.
.
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 52

(d)
Liquidation with 8 exd4 ...

(After l.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nge2 Bg7

5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 e5 7 .h3 Nbd7 8.0-0)

With this move Black exploits White's delay in playing Be3 and
his inability to make the desirable recapture on d4 with the Bishop.

9. Nxd4

When Black opts for the exchange on d4 he has decided to exploit

such squares as e5 and c5. But with his Knight on d7 he has to make sure
his developing moves are well coordinated. For example, 9 . a6 1 O.Re 1
..

Nc5 looks natural, but the Knight placement does not fit in with Black's
other pieces ( ... Ne5 is better). After 1 1 .Bf4 Re8 12.Nb3 ! Ne6 13.Bd2 a5
14.a4 Nd7 as in Filip-Chernin, Bangalore 1981, White has a secure and
growing superiority.

More in keeping with his middlegame plan is:

9. ... ReS
Black invites White to make a decision about his heavy and minor
pieces, such as his Queen Bishop. On 10.Nb3 White would stop ... Nc5, but
this allows 10 ... Nb6! intending ... Nc4. And if 1 l .Qd3, then 1 1 ...d5 12.exd5
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 53

Bf5 as suggested by Ftacnik.

10. Ret

White sometimes inserts the move 10.a4 at this point and Black
usually responds with ...a7-a5 to prevent White from gaining too much
Queenside space. One example of this went: IO.a4 Nc5 l l .Rel a5 1 2.g4
d5 !? 13.exd5 Rxelch 14.Qxel Nxg4 15.hxg4 Bxd4 and after 16.Be3! Bxe3
17.Qxe3 Na6 1 8.g5 Bf5 19.Be4, White stood better in Kudrln-Leskl, New
York 1982.

The text Rook move is sort of a waiting idea. If Black now re­
sponds IO... Nc5, the e-pawn is sufficiently protected to allow White the
opportunity for l i .Nb3!, with an edge.

10. ... aS

For example, IO ... Nc5 l i .Nb3 Nxb3 12.axb3 and White has good
Queenside prospects (12...a6 1 3.Be3 Rb8 14.Qd2 Bd7 15.Bg5 Bc6? 16.e5!
dxe5 1 7.Qxd8 Rbxd8 1 8.Bxc6 bxc6 19.Ne4 with a winning endgame, as in
Bjelajac-VeUkovlc, Novl Sad 1981).

11. Bf4

Should White take time out to stop l l .. .a4 ? Several Grandmasters

believe he should, and have played the position of l l .a4 Nc5. But then
12.Nb3 is no longer advantageous, because White must recapture on b3
with his c-pawn.

1 1 . ... a4
Again l l ...Nc5 12.Nb3 is excellent for White, even if Black rein­
forces c5 with 12 ... Nfd7 (13.Qd2 a4 14.Nxc5 Nxc5 15.Radl with ultimate
prospects for e4-e5.

12. Qd2
 Beating The Pirc/Modern With The Fianchetto Variation 54

Now 12 ... Ne5, intending 13 ... Nc4 14.Qcl Na5 15.Bg5 f6 with
good prospects, is met effectively and simply by 1 3 .b3. Then the liquida­
tion 13 ...axb3 14.axb3 Rxal 1 5.Rxal retains a small edge for White.

And the thematic 1 3 ...c6 creates problems for Black in defending

d6. In the influential game Karpov-Lerner, U.S.S.R. Championship
1983, White continued 14.g4 Nfd7 lS.Radl NcS 16.Nde2 Bf8 1 7.Be3! and
threatened to get a huge Kingside edge with Ng3, g4-g5, and f2-f4.

While there are many attractive ideas after 7 ... Nbd7, we must
conclude that White always seems to have a plan (d4-d5 or f2-f4 or g3-g4)
that takes advantage of it sufficiently to produce an edge. Sometimes White
has a choice of more than one advantageous plan. Black needs to look else­
where for improvement
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 55

ILLUSTRATIVE GAME

(4) Miles-Wojtkiewicz, Palma de Mallorca

GMA 1989
Don't be put off by the move order in this game. By 8 .c6, every­
..

thing will look right.

1. g3 Nf6
2. Bg2 g6
3. e4 d6
4. d4 Bg7
5. Ne2! 0-0
6. 0-0 e5
7. h3 Nbd7
8. Nbc3 c6
9. Be3

As mentioned earlier, the move 9.a4 was once thought to be in­

dispensable. Nowadays, however, White bas been obtaining a nice game
through simpler methods, principally involving an early g3-g4.

9. •••
ReS
10. g4 Nb6
11. b3!
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 56

Better than l l .Qd3, which also watches the c4 square, but allows
Black to equalize by the center liquidating l l ...d5. Now, however, that
break is somewhat dubious.

1 1. ... d5?!
12. dxe5! Nxe4
1 3. Nxe4 dxe4
14. Qxd8 Rxd8
15. Rad1

Black's Queenside doesn't get into the game now (15 ...Rxdl
16.Rxdl Bxe5 17.Rd8ch Kg7 18.Bxe4 Bc7 19.Re8) unless he is willing to
accept weaknesses such as 15 ... Be6 16.Nf4 Bxe5 1 7.Nxe6.

15. ... Re8!

16. Nc3 Bxe5
17. Nxe4 Nd5
18. Bh6!

A fine move that prepares an exchange sacrifice. After 18 ...Be6

19.Nc5 or 18 ... Nc3 19.Rdel , White keeps Black bottled up.

18. ... f5
19. Rxd5! cxd5
20. Ng5 Bg7

Quite lost is 20...Rd8 2l .Rel Bg7 22.Bxd5ch! (22 ... Rxd5

23.Re8ch). Black now returns the exchange, but his endgame is untenable.

21. BxdSch Kh8

22. Nt7ch Kg8
23. Nd6ch Be6
24. Nxe8 Rxe8
25. Bxe6ch Rxe6
26. Bxg7 Kxg7
27. Rd1
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 57

White is a pawn up with the superior Rook. Since Black loses the
27...Re2 28.Rd7cb race, the rest was inevitable.

27 • •.. Re7
28. gxf5 gxf5
29. Rd6! b6
30. c4 Kf7
31. Kg2 Ke8
32. Rd3 Kf7
33. Kf3 Kf6
34. Rd1 Kg5
35. Rd6 h5
36. Kg3 f4 ch
37. Kf3 Kh4
38. Rd5 Rh7
39. Rd1 Re7
40. b4 aS
41. bxaS bxaS
42. c5 Rc7
43. Ret Rc6
44. a4 Kg5
45. Ke4 Kh4
46. Rc3 f3
47. Kd5
Black Resigns
 Beating The Pirc/Modern With The Fianchetto Variation 58

CHAPTER FOUR

Black Delays a Decision

About His Queen Knight
Because of the various failings associated with 7 ... Nc6 and
7 ... Nbd7, the theory of the Fianchetto Variation began to smile on 7 ... c6 in
the late 1980's. Black managed to equalize in a number of Grandmaster
games after he got his Queen Knight to b4 when White had reduced his
control of that square with a2-a4. But while the Knight's placement on b4
eases Black's piece coordination somewhat, it also reduces his control of
squares such as e5 and c5. With the superior ability of his heavy pieces,
White retains excellent prospects of opening the center.

Today, 7 ...c6 remains the most popular antidote to the Fianchetto.

But White still holds the high cards.

1. e4 d6
2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 g6

Several Czech masters revived the old Ufimtsev Defense (3 ... c6)
during the late 1980's, with mixed results. White can meet it with 4.g3 and
transpose into one of our main lines.

In Belyavsky-Mokry, Haifa 1989, Black preferred to develop his

Bishop on e7, but White obtained his usual opening edge: 3 ... c6 4.g3 Nbd7
5.Bg2 eS 6.Nge2 b5 7.0-0 Be7 8.a3 0-0 9.h3 a5 10.g4 Ba6 ll.b4!.

4. Nge2 Bg7
5. g3 0-0
6. Bg2 eS

An odd idea to exert pressure on d4 is 6 ...Nfd7 7.0-0 cS and then

8.h3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nc6. With this move order, Black transposes into the Fi­
anchetto Variation of the Dragon Sicilian and White is even denied
10.Nxc6 and l l .e5.
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 59

After 10.Nde2 Rb8 l l .a4 b6 1 2.Re1 Bb7, Black eventually equal­

ized in Rukavina-Levie, Vrnjacka Banja 1986. However, White should
have a fine game with 13.Nd5 followed by c2-c3 and Bg5.

Also at Black's disposal is the development of his Queen Knight at

a6 on move six or seven. For example 6 ... Na6 and now 7.Bf4, to hold up
Black's e-pawn, looks good - 7...c5 8.d5 Nc7 9.a4 Bd7 10.Qd2 or 7 ...Qe8 !?
8.h3 e5 9.Be3 c6 10.0-0 Qe7 l l .Re1 with an edge for White.
Hort-Gallagher, B lel 1991 , saw l l ...Re8 12.Qd2 b6 13 .f4! Bb7 14.g4 etc.

7. h3

Now that Bf4 cannot be played, Black can insert 7 ...Na6 here. But without
the certainty of being able to occupy b4, this maneuver is somewhat sus­
pect

After 8.0-0 c6 9.Re1 Re8, we are following one of the early Fi­
anchetto Variation games between super-GMs (Karpov-Timman,
Montreal 1979). White played 10.Bg5! and after 10 ... h6 l l .Be3 Qc7
12.Qd2 Kh7 13.Rad1, he had an even better position than normal because
of the tempo gained at moves eleven and twelve.

7. ... c6

An idea favored by Roman Dzhindzhikashvili, that hasn't been

sufficiently well explored, is 7 ...b6 8.0-0 Bb7 and only developing the
Queen Knight at move nine or ten, e.g. 9.a4 exd4 10.Nxd4 Re8 with good
pressure against the e-pawn, or 9 .f4 Nbd7 1 O.fxe5 dxe5 1 1 .d5 Ne8 ! 1 2.g4
Nd6 as in Byrne-Dzhlndzhlkashvlll, New York 1989.

A more positional treatment is 9.Rel Re8 10.d5 ! . Then 10 ...c6

l l .Bg5! Na6 1 2.dxc6 frees Black's game at the cost of a backward d-pawn.
White has a slight edge after 12 ... Bxc6 13.Qd2 Qc7 14.Red1 Rad8 15.Qe3
Nc5 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nd5.
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 60

8. a4

The popularity of 7 ...c6 began to grow after several games in

which White played the inexact 8.0-0 allowing 8 ...b5 ! . Typical play around
1982-4 then went 9.a3?! Nbd7 10.Be3 Bb7 1 1 .f4 exd4 12.Nxd4 a6 and
now 13.e5? dxe5 14.Nxc6 Qc7 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.fxe5 Qxe5 ! 17.Bxb7
Qxg3ch 18.Bg2 Qxe3ch and Black won quickly in Bjelajac-Gligoric, Vrsac
1983, or 1 1 ...Re8 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.f5 Nb6 as in Chan-Nikollc, Novi Sad
1990.

In other recent games White has tried to improve by delaying or

avoiding a2-a3. For example, 8.0-0 b5 9.Be3 and now 9 ...Re8 gives White
a good ending with 10.dxe5 dxe5 l l .Qxd8 Rxd8 12.Rfdl ReS 13.Nc1 !
with the Knight headed for a2-b4-c6, and a favorable middlegame after
9 ... Nbd7 10.d5 ! . Black also runs into Queenside trouble if he hurries with
9 ...b4 10.dxe5 dxe5 1 1 .Na4 and later Nc5.

But Black can play solidly with 9 ... Bb7! 10.a3 Nbd7 1 1 .Qd2 Re8
12.Rfel a6, preparing 13 ...exd4 and 14...c5. Therefore, White should take
time out for 8.a4, even though it more or less concedes b4 to a Black
Knight.
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 61

8... a5

This used to be a fairly automatic response. It's clear that Black is

not ready to open up matters with 8 ... d5?! (9.exd5 exd4 10.Nxd4 Nxd5
1 l .Nxd5 cxd5 12.0-0 Nc6 13.Be3 followed by 14.c3 and 15.Qd2 with good
play against the isolated d-pawn).
It's also clear that inserting 8 ...exd4 9.Nxd4 before 9 ...a5 only
helps White out (10.0-0 Nbd7 1 1.Bf4! Ne5 12.b3, followed by piling up
heavy pieces on the d-ftle), ,while 9 ...d5 also has its problems. See Illustra­
tive Game Five.

However there are three worthwhile alternatives:

(a) Black can play 8 ...exd4 9.Nxd4 along with 9 ...Na6, because
his Knight will reach b4 in time to enable him to push the d6 pawn to d5.
For example, 9 ...Na6 10.0-0 Nb4 1 l .a5 Re8 12.Nde2? d5 allows Black in­
stant equality. (In Motwani-Ivanchuk, Novi Sad 1990, Black played for
more with 1 2...Re5 !?, but 13.Ra4 c5 14.Bf4 gave White a slight edge).
White does better with a waiting move like 12.Kh2 in this line.

However, he can also improve earlier with 1 1 .Rel , meeting

l l ...d5 with 12.Bg5 !.

(,.,) (b) Black can begin the Knight maneuver immediately at move
eight With 8 ...Na6 9.0-0?! Nb4 . For example, IO.Be3 Re8 l l .Qd2 exd4
12.Bxd4 c5 ! gave Black ample play in Lau-van der Sterren, Plovdlv 1983
(1 3.Be3 Bd7 14.Radl Bc6 1 5.Bg5 Qd7 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.b3 Rad8).
 Beating The Pirc/Modern With The Fianchetto Variation 62

::/J':j>\ More accurate is 9.Be3 ! so that 9 .. Nb4 can be answered by

.

' transition to a favorable endgame - 10.dxe5 dxe5 l l .Bc5 ! Qxdlch

12.Rxdl ! Nxc2ch 1 3.Kd2 Nd4 14.Bxf8. For 9...exd4 See Illustrative Game

e��)
(c) Finally, Black can try with 8 ...b6 9.0-0 Qc7, to hold the fort as
in the ...Nbd7 lines of the last chapter. After 10.Be3 Nbd7 1 1 .Qd2 Bb7
12.Rad1 Rad8 13.g4, Black has gotten all of his pieces developed, but
White's men are obviously more active. In Vogt-Espig, Tsittau 1989, Black
tried for the big break with 1 3 ...d5? 14.exd5 Nxd5, but he simply lost a
pawn after 15.Nxd5 cxd5 16.Nc3 exd4 17.Bxd4 Bxd4 18.Qxd4 Nc5
19.Nxd5.

Returning to 8 . a5.
. .

9. 0-0

9. ••• Na6

Black can delay this a bit with moves such as ... Qc7 or ...Re8, re­
inforcing support for e5. White as usual, gets a slight edge with Be3, Qd2,
Radl , g3-g4, and eventually f2-f4.

For example, 9 ...Qc7 10.Be3 Na6 l l .Qd2 Re8 12.g4 Nb4 1 3.f4!
exd4 14.Bxd4 and now in Miles-Suradiradja, Indonesia 1982, Black ac­
cepted a poor center with 14 ... d5?! 15.exd5 exd5 16.�
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 63

Black can try 12 ... exd4 13.Bxd4 Nc5 - instead of the ... Nb4 idea -
because this is one of those rare cases when 14.e5? Nfd7 leaves White
overextended. However, 14.Nb3 ! looks bener.

10. Be3

Also promising is 10.Bg5, although Black can even try 1 0... Nc7
and l l ...Ne6, after which the Bishop will retreat to e3. Then however, the
annoying Knight will have been deflected from b4. And after 1 0... h6
l l .Be3, White eventually gains a tempo with Qd2, as in the Kar­
pov-Timman game, by attacking h6.

10. ... Nb4

The Knight is excellently placed here. White will be reluctant to

enter endgames now that his c2-pawn may be lost. Black may be able to
plant his undeveloped Bishop on the excellent e6 square when White can
not kick it with d4-d5.

Nevertheless, 10 ...exd4 is also played here with the idea that on

l l.Nxd4, Black can change directions and play l l ...Nc5. But on l l .Bxd4,
he will continue l l ...Nb4. See Illustrative Game Six.

1 1. Qd2 Be6
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 64

12. Rad1

Tal once recommended 12.f4, since Black has lost some of his
ability to protect eS. Then 12 ...Bc4 1 3.Rf2 Qc7 leads to play similar to our
main line. After a 1990 example of this, a Russian named I. Belov ana­
lyzed 14.Rdl Rfe8 and now 1S.fxe5 dxeS 16.d5 cxdS 1 7.exd5 e4 18.d6 Qc6
as double-edged. But 19.Rdf1 must favor White at least a bit

12. Bc4
13. Rfe1

White's pieces are well centralized, but they lack an immediate

target His Queen is tied to the defense of c2 and the enemy Knight can not
be kicked out of b4 without considerable furniture moving.

The inherent strength of White's setup is shown by 13 ...Qe7?.

That natural move allows 14.b3 Ba6 15.dxe5 dxeS (Lerner-Tal, Yurmala
1983) and now 16.Bb6! gives White permanent pressure along the d-file
and against the aS-pawn.

Black does better with 13 ...Qc7 or 13 ...Re8. However, White re-

mains a bit better, as shown by Barlov-Parma, Vrbas 1982 - 1 3 ...Re8
14.Kh2 Qc7?! 1 S.f4. Black quickly realized his error and played 15 ...Qe7 !
to attack the e4-pawn.

But after 16.Ncl NbS 17.fxe5 dxeS 18.d5 cxdS 19.Nxd5 BxdS !
20.exd5 Qd6, White's d-pawn gave him a slight edge. Another idea that
suggests itself is 16.Ngl followed by Nf3.
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 65

ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES

(5) Geller-Chernin, Belgrade GMA 1988

Black's original play at moves nine to fifteen in this game leaves

him with what may seem to be an enviable center. But once again the su­
perior heavy pieces of White make their appearance when the center is
opened with 1 8.0!.

l. e4 d6
2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 g6
4. g3 Bg7
5. Bg2 0-0
6. Nge2 e5
7. h3 c6
8. a4 exd4
9. Nxd4 dS!?
10. exdS ReSch

Black is willing to accept the isolated d-pawn in the belief that he

will have good piece play in return.

11. Be3 cxdS

12. 0-0 Nc6
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 66

13. Qd2 Ne5!?

14. b3 Ne4
15. Nxe4 dxe4
16. Rad1 a6

Black was concerned about 16 ...f5 17.Nb5 ! and a Knight invasion

at d6 or c7. White's next move protects his h-pawn and therefore threatens
18.Bxe4. Black has little choice but to accept the opening of the center that
follows. (Note how 17.Kh2 f5 1 8.f3 ! is much stronger than the immediate
17.f3.)

17. Kh2 f5
18. f3! exf3
19. Nxf3 Qxd2
20. Rxd2
Black is a move or two away from equalizing, but those missing
tempi are significant because he has problems developing his c8-Bishop.
Of course, 20...Nc4? 21 .bxc4 Rxe3 or 20...Ng4ch are inferior because of
the inevitable 22.Re8ch. Even 20 ... Nxf3ch 21 .Rxf3 Kf7 would leave him
hard pressed to get his Queenside pieces out

20. Nc6
21. Bb6! Bf6
22. Nd4! Bd7
23. Nxc6 Bxc6
24. Bxc6 bxc6
25. Rd6!
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 67

White wins a pawn.

25. ... Bd8

26. aS Bxb6
27. axb6 Rab8
28. Rxc6 Rec8
29. Rxc8ch Rxc8
30. Rdl! Rb8

Or 30...Rxc2ch 3 1 .Kg l Rc8 32.b7 Rb8 33.Rd7; then Rc7 wins.

31. Rd6 Kf8

32. c4
Black Resigns
 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 68

(6) Martinovic-Gligoric, Budva 1986

One of the principal aims of the Fianchetto Variation is to prevent
Black from liberating his game with ...d6-d5. But with careful play by
Black - and inexact play by White - that advance can be achieved, as in the
following.

1. e4 d6
2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 g6
4. g3 Bg7
5. Bg2 0-0
6. Nge2 eS
7. h3 c6
8. a4 aS
9. 0-0 Na6
10. Be3 exd4

This novelty may have been played for the frrst time in this game.

1 1 . Bxd4 Nb4
12. f4 ReS
13. g4?! dS!

Now 14.exd5 cxd5 leaves Black's d-pawn weak, but it is offset by

White's K.ingside.
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 69

14. e5 Nd7
15. Ng3 b6
16. Ret Ba6
17. Na2?

This seems to exchange off a passive Knight for an active one, but
it turns the advantage over to Black. Probably 17.Bf2 and Nge2 I Nd4 was
better.

17. .•. Nxa2

18. Rxa2 Qc7
19. g5!

Otherwise 19 ... f6 favors Black.

19.... Rad8
20. c3 Nc5
21. Qf3 Bc4
22. Raal Nd3?

Black misses his opportunity. With 22 Nb3 !, Black stands better:

...

23.Radl c5 24.Bf2 Qc6 or 24...d4. Now White gets the upper hand. (Note
that 22...Nd3 23.Redl Nxb2? fails to 24.Rd2 and the Knight is trapped.)

23. Redl Nc5

24. Bxc5 bxc5
25. h4 Rb8
26. Rd2 Rb3
21. on Bxfi
28. RxO c4
29. Kg2?! Rd8?!
30. Rff2 Rdb8
31. h5 R8b7
32. Rfe2 Qb8

After mutual inexactitudes, White has gotten back on track. Black

 Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 70

has good pressure against b2, but the only way he can now improve his
position is with a ...d5-d4 pawn break. White on the other hand, can ad­
vance his e-pawn or f-pawn.

33. Qf2 Bf8

34. f5 Re7
35. Qd4 gxf5
36. Nxf5 Re6

37. Qf4? c5!

38. Rxd5?

White could have won with Qg4 on either of the last two moves.
For example, 37.Qg4 Rxe5 38.Nh6ch Kg7 39.Qd4 Bd6 40.Nf5ch Kg8
41 .Nxd6 Rxe2ch 42.Rxe2 or 37 ...Rb7 38.Nb6ch Kg7 39.Qf5.

38. .. . Rxb2
39. Rdd2 Rxd2
40. Qxd2 Rxe5
41. Rf2 Qc8

If anything, Black is a bit better now, but there is not much he can
do with his edge.

42. Qf4 Qe6

43. Kh2 Re2
44. Kg3 Rel
45. Kg2 Qd5ch
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 71

46. Qf3 Re4

47. Ng3
Draw

(7) Ivanchuk-Ehlvest, Linares 1991

Another example of the d-pawn's advance. At move fifteen it
would be a bad mistake, but two moves later it equalizes.

1. e4 d6
2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 g6
4. g3 Bg7
5. Bg2 0-0
6. Nge2 e5
7. h3 c6
8. a4 Na6!?
9. Be3 exd4!
10. Bxd4 Qe7

Another plan suggested by Ivanchuk is <iro' .b6. It is also playable

on the next mo.v�. when it would improve o�-t I . ..Rd8. For example,
10 .. .Qe7 1 1 .0-0 'ixi' 12.a5 b5 1 3.Nxb5 cxb5 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.e5 should then
be handled by 15 .. :dxe5, sacrificing the exchange.
"' �-- -

::-- .-:::--.
-.--1--
. 0-0-·---- ...... Rd8 ..) I; '
1 / l
j �)··
12. Ret
 Beating The Pirc/Modern With The Fianchetto Variation 72

White's Rook move doesn't fit in with his 1 3th and 14th moves.
Better is the immediate� 4.

12. ... b6
13. g4 Bb7
14. f4

And here Ivanchuk gives 14.Ng3 Nb4 1 5.g5, as leading to an edge

for White.

14. ... Nb4

15. Bf2 Ne8

Premature is 15 . . d5, because of 16.e5 Ne4 17.Nxe4 dxe4 1 8.Qcl

.

and the Black e-pawn is dying (18 ... c5 19.Ng3).

16. Qd2 Nc7

17. Bd4 d5!
18. exd5

Conceding that he has nothing. After 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.e5, Black

responds 19 ... c5! and turns out to have the more mobile center mass.

18. ... Ncxd5

19. Nxd5 Nxd5
20. Bxg7 Kxg7
 Chapter Three: Black Delays a Decision 73

21. Qd4ch Kg8

22. Nc3 Qb4!

This is the move that changes what could have been a serious
White initiative into a drawn endgame. The Queens must go off now and
afterwards c2 is enough of a target to equalize.

23. Qxb4 Nxb4

24. Be4 a5
25. Radl Ba6
26. Kf2 Bc4
27. Rxd8ch Rxd8
28. Rdl Rxdl
29. Nxdl Kf8
30. Ne3

On 30.Ke3, Black could respond 30...Bd5. Here, however, 30.

...Bd5 would be an error, because of 3 1 .Bxd5 cxd5 32.Ke2 d4 33.Nc4 and
Black's b6 falls.

30 • • •• Ba6
31. Kel Ke7
32. Kd2 Kd6
33. c3 Nd5
34. Nxd5 cxd5
35. Bd3 Bc8!
Beating The Pirc/Modem With The Fianchetto Variation 74

As long as Bishops remain, White has no winning chances.

36. BbS f6
37. Ke3 KcS
38. Kd3 Be6
39. Ke3 Bc8
40. Kd3 Be6
Draw
NOTES
 7!
s

ISBN: 0-87568-220-0