Pirc Alert!: A Complete Defense Against 1. e4

by Lev Alburt, Alex Chernin

Win more games and enjoy chess more as you play and understand it better! Packed with surprise-weapons, Pirc Alert! gives you everything you need to know to defend against White's most popular way of starting the game. Alburt and Chernin explain both the winning ideas as well as the moves of the Pirc Defense, a dynamic system used by the world's chess elite. The perfect companion to Alburt's Comprehensive Chess Course , this book makes use of time-tested educational techniques to make it easy for you to read and remember. The most important principles and positions are highlighted in color. Lesson previews and unique "memory markers" lock in what you've learned. Frequent diagrams allow you to study without a board. Pirc Alert! is the first volume of the brand-new three-volume series, Alburt's Chess Openings , which will give you all the opening knowledge essential to playing this phase of the game like a master. Two-color illustrations throughout. " Pirc Alert! ...does a fine job at being thematic while offering enough analysis to satisfy anyone who wants to adopt the defense that runs 1 e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 4 Nc3 g6."―Andy Soltis, Chess Grandmaster, New York Post , June 3, 2001 Two color illustrations throughout

Genres: Chess

400 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

Reviews

[Mark Galassi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful conceptual introduction, with good tie-in to middle-game themes. The book is aided by a very effective collection of diagrams for both positions and ideas.

I strongly recommend it if you intend to play the Pirc.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best introduction to the strategy of the Pirc. Man has a feeling that the first 200 pages doesn't only explain the intricacies of the Pirc - but it actually teaches you "the game of chess";
the way how Chernin (the co-author of this book) explains the over-protection in a simple manner is amazing. And the way how GM M. Gurevich (he was twice a tie for the 5th place on the FIDE rating list) was using the Pirc to outplay his inferior opponent - simply astonishing.
Also, thanks to the abundance of diagrams, an experienced player can go through the book without using the chess set.

[Todd Bryant · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my repertoire against 1.e4 for many years. The recommendations are decent, and they do a good job of explaining ideas to club players (the target audience). You might get smashed by 4.Be3 though.

[Vince · Rating 1 out of 5]

Beware! Especially if you buy used be sure to closely examine to make sure all content is there. I recently picked up a used copy online only to find 30 pages missing (one whole chapter). The theory and teaching approach is generally good, but obviously the production values are very suspect.