ChessBase Reader Printout, Microsoft , 2025/06/21 1

B07 6.Nf3
KID/Pirc Setups B1a) An important line is 6...Qa5
[GM Abhijeet Gupta] Black's idea is to go ...e7-e5 next.
Therefore, White's thematic reaction is
[%evp 0,33,27,32,21,14,47,47,44,49,80,29,52, 7.e5! dxe5 8.dxe5 Ng4 The thematic
12,36,36,42,35,47,41,42,24,65,83, 115,100,87, ( if 8...Nh5 9.Be3 Ng7 10.0-0-0 Ne6
80,76,72,65,55,62,39,40,47] 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 11.Bc4 I don't want to go really deep
g6 3.Nc3 This is my preferred way of fighting here as the position itself looks lost for
against the ...g7-g6 setup. Recently, this Black plus the engine gives an
continuation is known as Jobava Attack. White overwhelming advantage to White. ;
is preparing the advance e2-e4. At the same The endgame arising after 8...Nd5
time, he is ready to answer ...d7-d5 with Nb5. 9.Nxd5 Qxd5 10.Qxd5 cxd5
In this chapter, we shall take a look at the Pirc is not easy for Black. White should
setup. Bg7 This is the traditional move. play 11.h4 [%cal Gh4h5,Gh5h6] h5
[The alternative is 3...d6 Black plays this to Otherwise after h5-h6 Black will have
delay the development of the f8 bishop. The no space 12.0-0-0 e6 13.Bb5 a6
idea is that when White plays Qd2 followed 14.Bxd7+ Bxd7 15.Bg5 with Bf6
by Bh6, Black will take on h6 in one go. 4.e4 coming next. White is just much better
A) Preparing ...c7-c5 is hardly a good here. ) 9.e6N is very promising as
strategy here. Let's take a look at an Black is underdeveloped:
example - 4...Nbd7 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Qd2 ( A GM game saw 9.Ne4!? Qxd2+
c5?! (After 6...0-0 7.Bh6 e5 8.h4‚ 10.Nexd2 Bg7 11.Nc4 b5 12.h3
I don't see a particular difference for Black Nxf2 13.Kxf2 bxc4 14.Bxc4 Nb6
with or without ...c7-c6. White enjoys a 15.Bb3² White’s position is more
strong attack. ) 7.dxc5 Simple and strong pleasant, and Black's attempt at
A1) The alternative 7...e5 weakens the harassing the b3-bishop simply lost a
d5 square and now we don't really have pawn. c5?! 16.Be3! c4 17.Bxb6
to play for mate 8.Bh6 Bxh6 9.Qxh6 cxb3 18.axb3± This was Hamdouchi
Nxc5 (After 9...dxc5 10.0-0-0 – Marin, Sitges 1999. White is just
Black's position is completely cramped. ) a pawn up. ) 9...fxe6 10.h3 Ngf6
10.0-0-0 Qe7 Otherwise Ne5 is hard to 11.Bc4 Nd5 12.0-0‚ Nd5-Nc7 is a
parry 11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Bxd7+ Ncxd7 big threat now Nxf4 ( 12...Nxc3
( 12...Kxd7 13.Nb5+- ) 13.Nb5+- 13.Bxe6!+- ) 13.Qxf4 I can't see Black
White is already winning. ; surviving this for more than 5 moves. ;
A2) 7...Nxc5 8.e5 Having more active B1b) 6...Bg7 Some players develop
pieces, White immediately opens the the bishop on g7 when the White
position. knight appears on f3, The reason is
A2a) Another possibility is 8...Nfe4 that White has no longer the Saemisch
when after 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Qb4 setup based on f2-f3 and g2-g4.
White develops a strong initiative. d5 Nevertheless, White still has a strong
11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Rd1 e6 ( 12...a6 attack. 7.Bh6 0-0 ( 7...Bxh6 8.Qxh6 )
13.Bd3² [%cal Ge1g1,Gf3d4] ) 13.c4 B1b1) A solid alternative is 8.e5
Bc6 14.Nd4 White has an This is a move you play if you want
overwhelming advantage here. ; to play for two results. dxe5 (After
A2b) 8...Nh5 9.Be3 0-0 10.h3 8...Nd5 9.Nxd5 cxd5 10.h4ƒ
[%cal Gg2g4] The advance g2-g4 is a White enjoys an overwhelming
huge threat now and it's not easy to attack. ) 9.Bxg7 Kxg7 10.dxe5 Ng4
parry that. I believe White is simply 11.0-0-0 Qb6 12.e6!
winning here. ; B1b11) 12...fxe6 13.h3 Nxf2
B) 4...c6 The most flexible choice. Black ( 13...Nge5 14.Ng5 Nf6 15.Na4+-
opens the way of his queen and makes [%cal Ga4c5] ) 14.Na4
possible the advance ...b7-b5. 5.Qd2 wins a piece ;
B1) The main alternative is 5...Nbd7 B1b12) 12...Ndf6 13.exf7 Qxf2
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14.Bc4 b5 15.Bb3 Qxd2+ Gg3f5,Gg5e7] Black has too many

16.Rxd2 a6 17.Re1 c5 18.Be6 weaknesses. He faces big difficulties
Bxe6 19.Rxe6 Kxf7 20.Rde2 handling White's multiple threats. ;
We will pick up the e7-pawn and I B2b) 8...0-0 As we have already seen,
believe White is slightly better here even after playing Nf3 White can still
without any risk. ; organize a kingside attack.
B1b2) 8.h4 This is move you play B2b1) 9.h4 This is possible as well
when you want to checkmate your but Black can probably defend with
opponent. Bxh6 (The typical precise play
reaction to 8...e5 is 9.h5 B2b11) After 9...Bxh6 10.Qxh6
when the following sequence is White usually gets decent
possible Nxh5 10.0-0-0 Re8 attacking chances. Ng4 11.Qd2
11.dxe5 dxe5 12.g4 Nf4 13.Bxg7 h5 (After 11...Ndf6 White's typical
Kxg7 14.Nxe5 White forces the reaction is 12.h5 Nxh5 13.Nh2
transition into a slightly better Nxh2 14.Rxh2‚ with a strong
endgame. Rxe5 15.Qxf4 Qg5 attack. ) 12.Ng5 e5 13.Be2‚
16.Qxg5 Rxg5 17.Be2² [%cal Gf2f4, [%cal Gf2f3,Gg2g4] Defending the
Ge4e5] Here because the pawn is d4 pawn and putting pressure on
still on b7 Black cannot play b4 and the g4-knight with the intention to
thus he cannot stop our pawn march go f3-g4 later on. ;
in the centre ) 9.Qxh6 Ng4 10.Qd2 B2b12) 9...e5 Black should
h5 11.Ng5‚ [%cal Gf1e2,Ge1c1, immediately strike in the centre.
Gg2g4] White's kingside attack is 10.Bxg7 Kxg7 11.h5 This move
pretty straightforward. After casting marks the beginning of a sequence
long, White will proceed with Be2 that is pretty much forced -
followed by f2-f3 and g2-g4. ; ( 11.0-0-0?! h5 It's not very easy
B2) 5...b5 Besides gaining queenside to breach Black's kingside now )
space, Black indirectly attacks the e4- 11...Nxh5 12.0-0-0 Re8 13.g4
pawn in view of the idea ...b5-b4. 6.Bd3 Nf4 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Nxe5 Rxe5
Usually we meet b5 with Bd3 so that our 16.Qxf4 Qg5 17.Qxg5 Rxg5
knight can come back to e2 if Black goes 18.Be2 b4! Thanks to the pawn on
b4 Nbd7 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Bh6 b5, Black has this important
B2a) The alternative is 8...Bxh6 resource which sort of saves the
9.Qxh6 e5 ( 9...b4 10.Ne2 Qa5 day for him. ;
11.0-0 This would eventually B2b2) 9.Bxg7 Kxg7 10.a4
transpose as Black's only logical plan Once again, we employ this thematic
is to play Ba6 ) 10.h3 Qe7 with the break. b4 11.Ne2 a5 12.Ng3‚
idea to go Qf8 11.0-0 Bb7 12.a4 The advance h2-h4-h5 followed by
Remember this thematic idea. White Qg5 is a huge threat now.
wants to use Black's overextended Additionally, White can always
queenside. b4 13.Ne2 c5 switch to queenside play with c2-c3. ]
( Another instructive line is 13...Qf8 4.e4 d6
14.Qd2 a5 15.c3! Quite typically for [ 4...d5?! This is simply bad to mix Gruenfeld
this line, Whtie starts playing on both and Pirc together 5.Nb5 Na6 6.e5 Nd7
wings. The game might continue bxc3 7.Nc3 c6 8.Bxa6 bxa6 9.Nf3²
16.bxc3 Qe7 [%cal Ge8g8] 17.Rab1 Black's counterplay on the queenside is
Bc8 18.Ng3 White is simply better on ruined because of the structure and White
both sides of the board ) 14.dxe5 dxe5 can simply continue with Qd2-Bh6 and even
(Taking with the knight 14...Nxe5 0-0. ]
does not work in view of 15.Nxe5 5.Qd2 c6
dxe5 16.Bb5+ when Black is in [In the line 5...0-0 6.Bh6 White usually
trouble. ) 15.Ng3 Qf8 16.Qe3 Qe7 manages to develop a dangerous attack. At
17.Rfd1 0-0 18.Qg5± [%cal Gd3b5, this point, Black has many options but none
ChessBase Reader Printout, Microsoft , 2025/06/21 3

of them solves the problems. [ 5...Nbd7 6.Nf3 is just a transposition. ]

A) The structure arising after 6...c5 7.d5 [Another important direction is 5...Nc6
is also difficult for Black. After the 6.0-0-0 0-0 7.f3 I feel this is more precise
exchange of the dark-squared bishops, as Black cannot play e5 just yet. (After
White just starts pushing his kingside 7.Nf3 Bg4 Black starts putting pressure on
pawns. d4. ;An instructive line is 7.Bh6 e5 8.Bxg7
A1) Nothing changes 7...a6 8.h4 b5 Kxg7 9.Nge2 Ng4! 10.Qe1 Qh4!
9.Bxg7 Kxg7 10.h5 Black's king is too Cominbed with Ng4 and Qf6 this is the way
vulnerable in these positions. Nbd7 for Black but not at all easy to find as it
( Taking the e4-pawn with 10...b4 hasn't been played till now. In my opinion, a
11.Nce2! Nxe4 backfires after 12.Qe3 logical follow-up would be 11.g3 Qf6 12.f4
Nf6 13.hxg6 fxg6 14.Nf4 [%cal Ge1c1, Ne3 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5
Gg1h3,Gh3g5] White is completely Ne7 16.fxe5 Qxe5 17.Nf4 Qxe1 18.Rxe1
winning here ) 11.hxg6 fxg6 12.Nf3 Kg8 White is of course a bit better but maybe
Sidestepping Qh6 checks 13.Ng5 Black can hold this endgame. ) 7...a6 8.Bh6
[%cal Gg5e6] Ne5 14.Be2± e5 9.Nge2‚ Now Black doesn't have Ng4
[%cal Gf2f4] with f2-f4 to follow. White ideas and I think our attack on the kingside
has an obvious advantage. ; will be way faster than Black's. ]
A2) A bit more reliable but passive is [After 5...c5 6.dxc5 dxc5 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8
7...Bxh6 8.Qxh6 Nbd7 9.Nf3 8.0-0-0+ White has tremendous initiative. ]
[%cal Gf3g5] Ng4 10.Qh4 Ngf6 11.Be2 6.Bh6 Bxh6 7.Qxh6 Qa5 8.Bd3 c5
a6 12.a4² Black does not have The most played move although I feel White is
counterplay. White is better due to his still much better here
big space advantage. ; [Another principled approach is 8...b5 9.Nf3
A3) 7...Nbd7 8.Bxg7 (But not 8.h4 b4 10.Ne2 Ba6 Nevertheless, exchanging
Bxh6 9.Qxh6 Ne5 when Black gets the bishops does not solve the issues in
some counterplay. ) 8...Kxg7 9.f3 Qa5 Black's position. 11.0-0 Bxd3 12.cxd3
10.g4 Rb8 11.a4 a6 12.Nge2 b5 Nbd7 ( 12...Qh5 13.Qd2 Qb5 14.e5!‚ )
13.Ng3‚ [%cal Gh2h4,Gh4h5] Black's 13.Rfe1 Asking Black to commit Qh5
play on the queenside has stopped 14.Qd2 Qb5 15.Ng3 0-0 Otherwise White
whereas our attack on the kingside won't would play Qh6 again. 16.e5 White has
be easily repelled. Note that after b4 we winning attack here ]
will go Nd1-e3-c4. ; [ 8...Nbd7 9.Nf3 Qh5 10.Qd2 Qa5 11.0-0
B) 6...c6 7.h4 With the idea to go h5. 0-0 Black doesn't have any other useful
Black would eventually have to go for e5 moves as after e5 we would go back to Qh6
break which would lead to the mainline. ; and Black can't castle again. The last move,
C) 6...Nbd7 This is possible but it makes however, has a drawback - 12.Nd5! Qd8
more sense to put the knight to c6 as Forced 13.Nxf6+ exf6 ( 13...Nxf6 14.e5
Black would have to break White's centre Ne8 15.Qh6 White has a decisive attack
with either e5 or c5 and in those scenarios, here. ) 14.h4‚ with an obvious advantage. ]
the knight does a much better job on c6. 9.d5 Nbd7 10.Nf3 c4
7.h4 e5 8.Bxg7 Kxg7 9.h5 Nxh5 10.Be2 [ 10...b5 11.Bxb5 Rb8 12.Bxd7+ Bxd7
Ndf6 (White is winning on the spot after 13.0-0 Rxb2 Till here it was played in the
10...Nhf6? 11.Qh6+ Kg8 12.dxe5 Nxe5 game MVL vs Dominguez. 14.Nd1
13.0-0-0+- [%cal Gg2g4,Gg4g5] with g2- This was missed by MVL Rb4 15.e5 dxe5
g4-g5 to follow. ) 11.0-0-0 Qe7 12.Bxh5 16.c3 Rb7 17.Ne3 White is simply crashing
Nxh5 13.Nd5 Qd8 14.Ne2‚ White has a through here. ]
dangerous attack. ; 11.Bxc4 Qc5 12.Bd3 Qxf2+ 13.Kxf2 Ng4+
D) 6...e5 7.Bxg7 Kxg7 8.f3 Nc6 9.Nge2 14.Ke2 Nxh6 Till now it was quite forced
This is supposed to be the dream KID/ 15.h3! Strong move cutting the knight off the
Saemisch variation for White. Our idea is board 0-0 16.Kd2 a6 17.b4² With the
simple 0-0-0 and roll the pawns on the simple idea of Na4-c4-c5 and if Black tries to
kingside. ]
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stop it we have a juicy square for the knight on

c6.