Pirc Defense

/Pirtz/ - Ufimtsev defense - the opening, starting with moves: 1. e2-e4 d7-d6

2. d2-d4 Kg8-f6

3. Kb1-c3 g7-g6.

Formally, this system of development developed and put into practice by the Yugoslav grandmaster V. Pirc and the Soviet master A. Ufimtsev, on the basis of the first move of Black refers to a semi-open beginning, but many positions arising in it have strategic similarities with the Old Indian defense. The main idea of Black's defense is the development of pieces mainly on the 7th and 8th horizontals and further counterplay against White's center. This strategy of play is generally acceptable in cases where the Black player seeks poorly studied complex positions. At a high level this defense was used by V. Ivanchuk, Y. Nepomniaschiy, S. Mamedyarov, M. Vachier-Lagrave. In the 19th century this original beginning was often used by the famous German master L. Paulsen. A great contribution to the development of the opening was made by Anatoly Ufimtsev and Vasya Pirz, whose names it was named after