I play the Philidor line with 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bd3 e5.
White usually plays 4. c3 and Black can play the usual Be7, c6 etc, but there is an interesting independent line with 4...d5 (yes, moving the pawn twice). I've been trying it out quite a bit and I'm liking it more and more, it tends to result in a quick liquidation of the central pawns.
Some strong players play it too http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1765773
I prefer 3...Nc6, which usually prompts 4.c3, then 4...e5. Here if White plays 5.Nf3 we go 5..Bg4 stepping up the pressure, and if White goes 5.Ne2 instead avoiding the pin, only now strike with 5...d5! The 'double-step' center break does lose a tempo, but Black can argue the combination of Bd3 + Ne2 is awkward if the center opens.
Neat, I was unaware of 3...Nc6 instead of 3...e5, might look preferable to delay e5 by a move here. Related post here too http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/pirc-with-3-bd3-and-4c4-system
I see nothing wrong about 3...g6. But this does not mean the variation mentioned at #2 and #3 are not good- quite the opposite. It's just that the resulting positions are not "Pircesque".
Toga says ..e5 or ..Nc6
Likely unreleated to the initial post, but for some reason, I could never seem to make the Pirc work with ..g6, I think it's due to having a horrible time dealing with the '150 attack' ideas. It seems when White plays the Bd3 line, there is a hint that such ideas are in the air. By avoiding ..g6, I found my castled King position more resilient to these ideas.
1. e4 d6, 2. d4 Nf6, 3. Bd3 e5! is the way for Black to go.
Neither 4. d5 nor 4. dxe5 is anything to worry about.
So the main continuation is 4.c3 and now 4. ... d5! is at least equal
I suppose d5 does not naturally suggest itself when the d pawn has already used a move in getting to d6.
The main continuation now is 5. dxe5 Nxe4 with the following options for white:
A. 6. Bxe4 dxe4 7. Qa4+ Bd7 8. Qxe4 Bc6 9. Qg4 h5, 10 Qg3 h4 ... white has won a pawn but is in a bit of trouble
B. 6. Bxe4 dxe4 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 adn Black gets an easy game however White continues, for example 8. Bf4 Nd7 9. Ne2 Nc5 and the black knight is coming in on the d3 square that was weakened by 4. c3
C. 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Nbd2 (other tries are weaker) Nc5, and now white has 5 rerasonable moves (8. Nb3, 8. Be2, 8. Bc2, 8. Bb1 and 8. Bb5) but black is doing fine in every case.
I am not going to say any more, as I play the PIrc as Black.
Hi,
I'm currently trying to get familiar with the Pirc/Pribyl defense. However, when I try it out I see the move 3. Bd3 played remarkably often. It doesn't look like a very ambitious move, as the Bishop can probably easily end up misplaced on this square.
My options seem to be to stick to a Pirc setup with g6, or to transpose to a Philidor with e5 (making the Bishop look a bit silly.)
What are your favorite lines after 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bd3?