Bibs wrote on 08/14/15 at 01:09:30:


P.S. If you like learning via DVD format, and want coverage of  a main line Austrian rep vs the Pirc and Modern, you've got Bologan's Taming DVD. No tank top or Star Trek outfit in this one. Sharp suit instead. Must bode well.

Stigma wrote on 09/05/15 at 14:49:56:


I guess this is where I say that 6. e5 Nfd7 7. Bc4 is hardly new.  I recalled a two-parter on it in the Yearbook in 2013, but it appears in books going back at least to the 1960s.

A shame about the Lilov DVD

I will mention Hillarp Persson's The Modern Tiger again; there are more Pirc transpositions included this time compared to Tiger's Modern, including a complete, well-researched "backup repertoire" with lots of new analysis in the Austrian Pirc with 5...0-0 (6.Bd3 Nc6; 6.Be3 b6; 6.Be2 c5). He also takes the new, dangerous line 6.e5 Nfd7 7.Bc4!? very seriously; I'm leaning towards 6...dxe5 instead because this looks dangerous. For some reason 6.e5 is hardly ever played against me, but maybe that will change now.

I've never managed to settle on one line against 6.Bd3. 6...Na6 was well covered on the Davies DVD and in Vigus' books; in my experience it's riskier than 6...Nc6 but may give more winning chances. It will be interesting to see which line Marin prefers.

RoleyPoley wrote on 09/05/15 at 13:15:53:


Marin's rep also follows the principled route of castling into it which solves some move order problems, but is very dangerous too!

With the Pirc, at least you have choices.

RoleyPoley wrote on 09/05/15 at 13:15:53:


It's a very dangerous practical weapon which has mowed down many an unprepared Pirc defender, myself included. I think Lahno's line seems to hold though.

I think the dc/Bd3 mainline is a decent practical weapon too, just play a Dragon middlegame and let the best player win [I am assuming you are the best player ]

If you want to prove advantage to White, I think you need to go for the mainline chaos Bb5+

Amazing that Chessbase keep employing him. Just dire. Nothing to say, and says it badly.
You'll just have to wait till Feb then:
http://www.chess-stars.com/Future_Plans.html

Bibs wrote on 09/05/15 at 12:52:33:


Seems I took one for the team 

Very disappointed in this one. 

I didn't even spend the whole hour on it, skipping out of his chosen games where Black plays inferior moves and so are of little use.

He bombs through some theory which you can probably get from any decent books. I see nothing new offered.

Doesn't suggest a repertoire for White. e.g. against 5. ...c5 he whizzes through the Bb5+ mainline stuff, Shirov's Bxd7 and dc without showing me anything new.

In the dc/Qd4 line, I completely disagree of his assessment of the exchange sac line (also given in Andrew Greet's book). Tiger Lilov thinks it is unplayable for Black and the ending is better for White. No game or analysis offered.

But look at e.g.



White just has nothing here I think. There, I think I've offered more theoretical contribution than this whole presentation