Holbox wrote on 03/14/07 at 07:37:35:

I play both Modern and Pirc move orders for variety and flexibilty. They each have their pros and cons and I don't think one is particularly better than the other. I have dabbled with Hippos and a6 Moderns, and I'm not entirely convinced of their soundness but they seem to work. I think the a6 Modern against the Austrian is risky against a prepared opponent, but the main Pirc lines are sound enough.

Allowing c3 with the Modern move order is more annoying than worrying, especially if if White is content for a draw.

Willempie wrote on 03/13/07 at 13:54:05:


Well there's the one about the tent ...

Hi all,

Was gonna comment re Watson's comments on James' book but he got there first!

Do concur with James that h3 g4 better after black committed to c6.  As Watson esq. noted, c5 appears the sensible reply. Perhaps Mr Watson should read a bit more carefully before passing such ready judgment on people's books? Hope to see more considered comments regarding Pirc material henceforth.

Nakamura (a very friendly young man btw - he came over to Japan a few months back to squash us all.) Plays a lot of random stuff to bash weakies such as all of us in Japan and in blitz. Not sure how much to read into his blitz choices.

Re: Bd3 stuff. Bauer's the first book to have more than a passing mention. plenty therein: p147-164 about this - so maybe worth a shot for whites seeking to get blacks out of their respective books. Overall this book well worth a look.

cheers,

Si

There must be a Sherlock joke here somewhere

Another very quick reply for now (without wishing to usurp JEH!): I like 3 Bd3 e5, which I haven't covered in my book (which begins strictly from 3 Nc3 g6). But Christian Bauer has written about this in his new book The Philidor Files -- that should be a useful and up-to-date source.

JEH - that's right, I didn't cover the specific line 4 h3 Bg7 5 g4 c5, since I don't think there's much doubt that this g4-plan is stronger after Be3 (and ...c6) has already been played.

The book was due out in the US at the start or March, so maybe he got a copy there.

Doesn't seem due here in the UK until later.

I doubt it would have space to cover every rare side line, even one Nakamura uses to bamboozle people with at Blitz.

But Chesspub's got the antidote anyway  

How does Mr.Watson know what is "not inluded" in J.Vigus forthcoming book on the Pirc? Has been this book published yet? Please Mr. Vigus, take some attention on Watson suggestions.

A Pirc Fan.