Mystery game #68: Provocative Pirc play proved pretty unsound!

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  • Mystery game #68: Provocative Pirc play proved pretty unsound!

    Here is the text of an interesting game. You can discuss the game, variations, era, player strengths, setting, time controls, etc. I will provide all data in a few days. Enjoy!!

    1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 Bg7 5.Qd2 Nc6 6.Nf3 Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 e5 10.d5 Nd4 11.Nxd4 exd4 12.Nb5 Qe7 13.O-O-O O-O 14.h3 Nf6 15.f3 Nh5 16.Bf2 c5 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.Nxd4 Qe5 19.c3 Qa5 20.a3 c5 21.Nc6 Qa4 22.Ne7+ Kh8 23.Qxd6 Be6 24.Qxc5 Rfd8 25.Bb5 Qb3 26.Rxd8+ Rxd8 27.Qc7 Rd2 28.Qb8+ Kh7 29.Qg8#, 1-0.

  • #2
    Matthew Struthers (2178) -- Wayne Coppin (2010), Kingston 1999, Kingston Championship (4), played 1999-03-08, time controls 30/90', SD/60', TD Frank Dixon, Pirc, B07.

    This is really quite a one-sided game. The variation Black chooses in the Pirc has a poor reputation. Lines with an early Bc1-e3 and Qd1-d2 for White were just starting to become popular, when this game was played. Often, White gets in f2-f3 first, as in the Saemisch King's Indian. White has won 8 of 9 games after 9.Bg3, on 365chess.com. Black does NOT manage to exchange off White's dark bishop, after going to some trouble to do so, compromising his kingside pawn structure. Then, when White castles queenside, Black has difficulty finding an appropriate plan for his pieces to coordinate well. Black is losing a pawn, on d4, but perhaps 14...Ne5!? 15.Nxd4 c5 16.dxc6 bxc6 offers Black some better chances for compensation, with his knight centralized. All told, too many moves with his KN leave Black grasping for respectability, four of first 15 to take it to a poor post on h5. White steadily builds a solid advantage, efficiently converting it to victory when Black gets desperate for what turns out to be failed counterattacking chances. Although Struthers, Queen's University science student, was highest-rated at 2178 (career high) in this strong round-robin (comparable to a Reserves Section of a Toronto Closed), he placed third, behind winner Geoff McKay (unbeaten 7/8, performance 2305) and myself.

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