@C_b_T & guys: by playing 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6, you rule out the Modern and go straight for the Pirc.  is it because of e4-d4-c4 in the Modern, or for some other reason? I occasionaly play 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7, don't know when I should go for a Pirc instead of Modern.

Hi,
After a little browsing with Lichess comp (= just blundercheck, no corr-like analysis) these lines with 8.dxe5 Nd5 don't look so grim. 
> after  9.Nxd5 Qxd5 10.Qe2 Bg4 11.Be4, I'd go 11...Qd7 12.Be3 Rad8 and e.g. 13.Rd1 Qxd1 with unspoilt pawn structure
> after 9.Qe2 Bg4 10.Be4, 10...Nd4 looks adequate for Black, White must be careful with his Queen.
> 9.Bd2 Bg4 10.Be4 e6 with Nd4 and ...c5 coming also looks OK for Black.
> 9.0-0 is the move I'd find most annoying. After 9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 f6 11.exf6 exf6 12.Rb1 b6 13 f5, White has easier play but for some reason the computer is like -0.1. White also has the forcing 13. Nh4 f5 14.Bc4+ Kh8 15.Nxg6+ hxg6 16.Qf3 Bf6 17.Qxc6 Rb8 and ...Bb7, but the computer claims equality. A line to check beforehand!
> after 9.Nxd5 Qxd5 10.c3, the computer improves on 10...Rd8 with 10...Be6!? and e.g. 11.Qe2 Rad8 12.Bc2 Qc4 with white square control a la Grunfeld.
Hope you'll get a better game next time

Hi.

Michael Ayton wrote on 03/10/23 at 14:59:54:

I looked at this 9.Nxd5 Qxd5 10.Qe2 branch when I got home after the game.
1.e4 g6 2.d4 d6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.f4 Nf6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.e5 dxe5 8.dxe5 Nd5 9.Nxd5 Qxd5 10.Qe2 Bg4 11.Be4 Qd7 12.Be3 Nd4 13.Qd1!? Bxf3 14.gxf3 Rfd8 15.c3 Nf5 16.Qxd7 Rxd7 17.Bxf5 gxf5 18.Rg1 Rad8 19.Ke2 e6
Was my mainline after 11...Qd7. I get the feeling black will draw this in 85% of games but only win like 5% of the time.

If one is OK with the above that continuation from white it is probably one of the smaller problems in some sense. White has many different tries all over this opening line though; significantly adding annoyance factor. For example 
1.e4 g6 2.d4 d6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.f4 Nf6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.e5 dxe5 8.dxe5 Nd5
9.Qe2!? looks slow but seems decent as well. Black's best is probably 9...Bg4 and then white can try 10.Be4; where black needs to know how to play the position. These f4+e5 pawn chains are a bit annoying to face.
9.0-0 The computer now suggests 9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 f6 to get counterplay. The game does open up a little bit quicker than black would really like though. At least that's my sense. I'm not totally sure what to do instead.
9.Bd2 Is quite popular. I suspect black's best is again 9...Bg4.
9.Nxd5 Qxd5 10.Qe2
10.0-0 is certainly possible as well. 10...Nb4 11.Be2 Qc5+ 12.Qd4 and it's a little bit annoying that white seems to get a fair bit of compensation if black takes on c2.
10.c3 with likely continuation 10...Rd8 11.Bc2 Qxd1+ 12.Bxd1 is practically annoying. White is arguably never worse in such a position and black will need to be somewhat precise I think. Probably with 12...Be6, to prevent Bb3 from white.

Have a nice day.

or 11...Qd7 12.Be3 (12.h3 Nd4) Rad8 and White must prevent Nd4 with Rad1 or c3. Not quite thrilling, but no violent death in sight. Perhaps this is the 'safe' line, while 11...Qa5 is the risky choice?

Kerangali wrote on 03/10/23 at 09:26:05:

True. Pardons. It was pretty late.
It's 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bd3 Nc6

Have a nice day.

Hi.

I just lost a rated standard chess game after:
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.e5 dxe5 8.dxe5!?
A semi-sideline asfaik. Honestly it also bothers me a little bit because, after another mine-hit a couple of years ago, I am now 0 out of 2 in that line in rated games. Zero percent. Not so good. Can't really be pleased about that.

Anyway. The game went into one of the critical lines:
8...Nd5 9.Nxd5!? Qxd5 10.Qe2 Bg4 11.Be4 Qa5+!?
I knew there was some high level game here so went for this, but I now wonder if other moves are not simpler. After...
12.Bd2 Qb6 13.0-0-0 Nd4 14.Qc4
I was a bit unaware of the line in general (and any dangers) and so went:
14...Nxf3?!
That was met by pawn takes and I lost in pretty embarassing fashion after my opponent was able to go h4-h5 shortly after and I basically messed up the defense.

Back home I check Tiger's book and it actually half recommends the line I played. Only he notes how in the stem game Zaw - Sitanggang, Jakarta 1997 14...c5 was played because it is important not to exchange on f3 until it is necessary; then white can go for a quick h4-h5 and attack.

Oops...

Now, I wanted to note that detail about not taking. Also it would be nice to win or at least not lose the next game in this line so idk... let's discuss a bit. Even some semi-dubious replies could be interesting for me. It seems white can play the line very safely and most of which that annoys or sidetracks white from that could be of substantive practical value and would be of interest.

Have a nice day.