It should be noted that White is not obliged to play the Argentinean or the 150-Attack after 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6. The flexible attacking player might prefer 5.f4, again arguing that this is a good version of the Austrian Attack.

Many thanks for the responses, I think I'm ok with the Pirc side now, or least i know the questions i need to answer

My key concern is with the e4 g6 lines - ensuring that i don't end up in a Pirc have been move-ordered, and also to understand what modern set ups i need to be aware of

Thanks again in advance for any contributions

Blunderer wrote on 11/06/11 at 22:44:01:

I'll do my best.
First you have to separate setups with f2-f3 (Argentinean Attack) from setups with Nf3 (150-Attack). They are closely related and it's possible to use both in a repertoire, but they are still diferent.
The Argentinean Attack is much older. White used to play 4.f2-f3 first out of fear for the Nf6-g4 sally. Only around 1985 White began to learn how to handle it. As a consequence some English players began to omit f2-f3 entirely, replacing it by Nf3 and Bd3.
A theoretical overview may begin with 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 Bg7 5.Qd2 O-O 6.O-O-O (6.f3 also has the disadvantage of allowing 6...c5 and 6...e5) and 7.f3. Here White's plan is simple: h2-h4-h5, Be3-h6, sac sac mate. In practice its execution can be difficult, but the plan is still dangerous.

So many Pirc players prefer 5...c6 when White has a choice:
a) 6.f3 b5 like the famous Kasparov-Topalov game. As White doesn't have a direct target ánd castling Queenside looks risky play tends to be more positional. I like 7.h4 best.
b) 6.Nf3 and Black can force White to castle Kingside with Qa5 7.h3 Nbd7 8.Bd3 O-O 9.O-O. White argues that he has an improved version of the Classical (4.Nf3 and 5.Be2) as Qa5 is slightly misplaced. Play is very positional.
c) 6.Bh6 Bxh6 7.Qxh6. White tries to keep Black's King in the centre, develop quickly and initiate an attack after all. This is the sharpest line.

Then there is 4...c6 which avoids line c above (Black would win an important tempo). Against the Argentinean Attack (5.f3 or 5.Qd2 b5 6.f3) Black may keep the Bishop on f8 for a while, arguing that there are more useful moves. The 150-Attack 5.Qd2 b5 6.Bd3 is objectively best. White will castle Kingside and start play on the Queenside with a2-a4. White's sharpest option seems to be 5.h3 idea 6.f4 (a modified version of the Austrian Attack) or 6.g4 (dubbed the Archbishop Attack by James Vigus).

It will depend on your choice against 4...c6 what you will play against the Modern 1...g6. Important here is that White does not need to play f2-f3 or h2-h3 as long as Black doesn't play Ng8-f6. A plausible move order is 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 c6 5.Qd2 b5 6.Bd3 with the idea to play a2-a4 again.

I've just started playing e4 again.

I intend to play the 150 attack against the Pirc, but am struggling to understand the move order issues of this against the modern.

Could you please give me some advice as to what i should be looking at against 1...g6 to maintain a consistent repertoire

Thanks in advance