THE PIRC IN BLACK and WHITE
Author: James Vigus
Everyman Chess (2007)
381 pages
$23.95

Reviewed by Jeremy Silman

What is it with these English chess authors? All of them seem to get Doctorates (from prestigious universities!) in physics or literature or zenobiology. Then, if that isn't enough, they swim the English Channel, join the Dangerous Sports Club, solve some thousand-year-old math problem, and somehow write a large chess book too! How can this be? Where did this race of supermen come from?

Our present author, FIDE Master James Vigus, joins the ubermensch that came before him by acquiring his PhD in English Literature at Cambridge, and also writing a massive new book on the Pirc that, quite simply, is a must own if you play either side of this opening.

THE PIRC IN BLACK and WHITE brings us up to date on all Pirc happenings. Of particular note are the changes in the theory of the Austrian Attack, which has recently been giving Black some dodgy moments. For example, the line 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bd3 Na6 7.0-0 c5 8.d5 Rb8 has been around for a while and was thought to be safe enough for Black, but then came 9.f5! which left black corpses everywhere the eye could follow. Vigus explores all of black's replies, but in the end he makes it clear that black's fate more or less rests on 9 Nc7. His comment shows the kind of prose you can find throughout this book:
"Probably Black's best. In fact I want to argue that on the basis of this move, the answer to Karel Van der Weide's question (posed in NIC Yearbook 70) 'Can White win at once with 9.f5?' is 'No!', and that Khalifman and Soloviov have exaggerated White's chances in their repertoire book. However, most Black players have so far not managed to pick their way through the minefield, and nobody should even try without thorough preparation."
There follows four pages of analysis showing that Black is probably okay (at the moment).
It's clear that the Austrian Attack has leapt to the head of the line as White's most dangerous weapon vs. the Pirc, and almost every line has been energized with many new ideas for both sides. Fittingly, Mr. Vigus gives the Austrian Attack a proper look with 142 packed pages of analysis and interesting prose.

After the Austrian, we get the Fianchetto Variation (1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.g3), a dangerous system where White intends to follow with the smooth Bg2, Nge2, h3, Be3, 0-0, and Qd2. The author (over 21 pages) shows how Black can get into serious trouble if he doesn't challenge White's scheme. However, if he learns one of the recommends anti-fianchetto lines, then complex positions are reached that offer chances for both sides.

Next up is the ever-popular Classical System (1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 -- 54 pages) and the Accelerated Classical (1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h3 followed by 6.Be3 -- 16 pages), which was a favorite of mine for many years. The Classical isn't too terrifying for Black, but lately the Accelerated Classical has grown new teeth and needs to be given serious respect by Pirc devotees. Having said that, Vigus feels that Black is doing fine with 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h3 0-0 6.Be3 a6 7.a4 Nc6. He also gives 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h3 0-0 6.Be3 a6 7.a4 b6 8.e5! (A Dzindzichashvili suggestion which is viewed by many as being extremely dangerous for Black) a serious look, and concludes that things might not be so clear after all.

Other chapters:

f3 lines (27 pages), which are extremely complex and offer mutual chances.

The 150 Attack (1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3), very nicely covered in 45 pages. This is an extremely popular line (Vigus called it a "sophisticated modern system") among amateurs and grandmasters.

Finally 4.Bg5 (25 pages), 4.Bc4, and 4.Bf4 are given careful looks.

THE PIRC IN BLACK and WHITE is, without any doubt, the best book on the Pirc ever written. It's up to date, filled with original analysis by the author, offers interesting move orders that avoid some problem lines, and gives a very useful summary at the end of every chapter.

I said it earlier and I'll say it again: this is a MUST BUY if you play the Pirc, or if you open with 1.e4. An outstanding piece of work!

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