By Karel van der Weide

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c5 6.dxc5 Qa5 7.Bd3 Qxc5 8.Qe2 0-0 9.Be3 Qa5 10.0-0 Bg4 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Nc6

In the 2001 Dutch championship, I faced this position for the first time. My opponent, GM Paul van der Sterren, most probably chose the Pirc because I used to play the harmless Financhetto Variation. However, I had changed repertoire. But as sometimes happens when you play something for the first time, I mixed up the move order. I only remembered White had to defend b2 at some stage with Rab1. I thought for some time and considered this to be the moment. As a result, I got a pleasant position, even a winning one after Paul blundered, but in the end the game was drawn. Until now, it turned out to be the only draw for an opponent of mine playing this line! I am leading the competition 5 1/2-1/2.

So, what are the benefits of 13.Rab1? Well, White is just faster compared to the main line. The usual move at this point is 13.a3, described by John Nunn in THE COMPLETE PIRC as "a semi-useful waiting move to prevent ...Nb4." To be honest, I do not consider ...Nb4 to be a threat. If my opponent wants to strengthen my center with ...Nxd3, that's his choice! A possible line is: 13.Rab1 Nb4 14.a3 Nxd3 15.cxd3 Nd7 16.d4 e6 (16...e5 17.dxe5 dxe5 18.f5) 17.f5 exf5 18.exf5 Rae8 19.Bf2, etc. It is interesting to compare this position with one from the main line. After 13.a3 Nd7 14.Bd2 Qb6+ 15.Kh1 Nc5 16.Rab1 Nxd3 17.cxd3

Black is in full control of the d4-square, and there is no way to push the center. White has to rely on a flank attack (g4/f5), but this can be met by the strong 17...f5! (For full details, see my article in NIC Yearbook 69).

Enough text, let's see some games! In three games (after 13.Rab1) I had to face 13...e6, but the alternatives should definitely not be ruled out. First of all, there is 13...Nd7, which was played by Frans Konings. After 14.Bd2 Frans played a bit passive with 14...Qd8. On the other hand, he is unable to play 14...Nc5 because of 15.b4!, 14...Nb4 does not work because of 15.Nd5! and 14...Bxc3 15.Bxc3 Qxa2 even loses the queen after 16.Ra1 Qe6 17.f5! In the game I grab some space:

15.b4 Rc8 16.Nd5 Nd4 17.Qd1

17.Qf2?! Nxc2 18.Rfc1 e6 19.Rxc2 exd5 is a mess.

17...e6 18.Ne3 a6

18...f5 19.exf5 gxf5 20.c3 followed by Qb3 is good for White.

19.a4 Nc6 20.Qe1 Qe7 21.Kh1

21...a5?

This pawn is gone!

22.b5 Nb4 23.Bxb4 axb4 24.Qxb4 Bc3 25.Qa3 Bd4 26.Nc4 Rc5 27.e5! +- with a winning position.

Another idea is moving the rook on f8 to a more active square. IM Yury Zimmerman put it on d8:

13...Rfd8 14.a3 Qc7

Most probably, Yury planned 14...d5? 15.exd5 Nxd5 but Black is lost after 16.b4 Nd4 17.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 18.Kh1.

15.g4 h6

15...e6 16.g5 Nd7 17.Nb5 Qb8 18.f5 a6 19.fxg6 with an attack.

16.Nd5 Qd7

16...Nxd5 17.exd5 Nd4 18.Qf2 Qc5 19.c3 +-.

17.b4

17...Rac8

17...Nxd5 18.exd5 Nd4 19.Qf2 Nb5 20.Rb3 a5 21.bxa5 +- and 17...e6 18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.b5 Ne7 20.g5 Bg7 21.f5 attacking, are no reasonable alternatives. In the game I continued with the solid 18.Qf2, granting me a good position. However, there is nothing wrong with the brutal 18.b5!, followed by grabbing the pawn on a7.

The final alternative is moving the Rook one square further to c8:

13...Rfc8 14.a3 a6 15.b4 Qd8

Compared to my game with Konings, this set-up is much more harmonious for Black.

16.Ne2 b5 17.Rbd1

It might be advisable to use the standard-procedure: 17.Qf2 Nd7 18.f5 Nce5 19.Nf4 etc.

17...Nd7 18.e5

You should only play this kind of move when you are certain of winning (and I was not!).

18...Qc7

18...Nb6 19.Be4 Nc4 20.Bf2 Qc7 21.h4 a5 22.h5 axb4 23.hxg6 hxg6 24.e6 f5 is unclear too.

19.Be4 Nb6 20.Nd4 Nxd4

Here my opponent, Dr.Müller, could have equalized with 20...d5 21.Bd3 Nc4 22.Bxc4 Nxd4 23.Rxd4 dxc4 24.Rfd1 Rd8.

21.Bxd4 d5 22.Bd3 e6 23.g4 Nc4 24.Rf2

24...Rab8?

In my opinion, Dr.Müller should have taken the pawn on a3, because it is not clear if I have sufficient compensation.

25.h4 Rb7 26.Re1 Qd8 27.h5 Rbc7

27...f5 28.exf6 e.p. Bxf6 29.Bxf6 Qxf6 30.g5 with an attack.

28.Qh3 Qe8 29.f5 Qd8

29...exf5 30.gxf5 Nxe5 31.f6 Nf3+ 32.Rxf3 Qxe1+ 33.Rf1 also wins.

30.f6 Bf8 31.hxg6 fxg6 32.f7+ Kg7 33.Rh2 h5 34.gxh5 Rxf7 35.hxg6, 1-0.

So, let s return to the "main move" 13...e6. After 14.a3 Van der Sterren played directly 14...d5. Two other opponents of mine opted for the more circumspect 14...a6 15.b4 Qc7

I don't know what went on in Mr.Kause's mind when he played 15...Qxa3?? Anyway, he lost his Queen after 16.Rb3.

16.Ne2 b5 17.Rbc1 Nd7 18.f5 Nce5 19.Qg3 Nc4 20.Bg5 Qb6+?!

Black, Ellen Hagesaether, in my opinion should have settled for a slightly worse position: 20...f6 21.Bf4 e5 22.Be3.

21.Kh1 Rfe8 22.fxe6

It is impossible to force my way trough: 22.f6? Bf8 23.Bxc4 bxc4 24.Qh4 d5 25.Bh6 Qd6 and Black defends.

22...fxe6 23.Bxc4 bxc4 24.Rcd1 with a solid plus for White.

Finally, my game with Paul van der Sterren (after 13...e6 14.a3): 14...d5 15.e5 Nd7 16.b4 Qd8 17.Nb5

17...a5

An interesting alternative is 17...f6. White has to decide if he ruins the structure by 18.exf6 or provoke ...f5 by means of 18.Qg4 Qe7 19.Nc7 f5 20.Qe2 Rac8 21.Nb5. In both cases I prefer White.

18.c4! dxc4 19.Bxc4 axb4 20.axb4 Qe7 21.Rfd1 Rfd8 22.Qe4 g5!

An excellent stroke to undermine the White center.

23.g3

23.Bd3 is a shot in the dark: 23...gxf4 24.Qxh7+ Kf8 25.Bxf4 Ndxe5 26.Bh6 Qf6.

23...Nxb4

23...gxf4? 24.gxf4 Qh4 25.Qg2 Ndxe5? 26.fxe5 Qxc4 27.Bh6 +-.

24.Qxb7 gxf4 25.gxf4 Rab8?

A rare type of blunder at this level. 25...Nd5 would have secured equality: 26.Bxd5 exd5 27.Qxd5 Nxe5 28.Qe4.

26.Rxd7 Qxd7 27.Qxd7 Rxd7 28.Rxb4 Rd1+ 29.Kf2 Bf8

But here it was my turn to blunder. In order to win, White should keep a pair of rooks on the board (by 30.Ra4), because two light pieces against a rook on one wing is a draw. This was explained to me by all (I repeat all!) participants of the Dutch Championship for women, who just consumed this knowledge at a training camp. Anyway, after 30.Rb3 Be7 31.Nc3 Rxb3 32.Nxd1 it was too late.

Conclusion: Again, make the same "mistake" as I did!