Customer Reviews

Pirc Alert!: A Complete Defense Against 1. e4

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is one of the best opening books I have ever read. I bought this book to keep up on ideas for white in the Pirc, but now I'm thinking of switching from my favored Sicilian and giving it a try as black.

I own over 600 chess books including a bunch on the Pirc. This one stands out head and shoulders above the rest.

A considerable amount of time is spent on the theory of the opening. At last someone is willing to tell us what it takes years to figure out. What the reasons are behind all of the moves and variations. The reasons are given in plain English with numerous diagrams to point out the various motifs.

Then after an extensive discussion of opening theory, the authors cover the actual moves and variations and include a large number of opening novelties.

This is the way all opening books should be designed. I can hardly wait for their next one

This is one of the finest opening books I have read. First a warning. The Pirc defence is not for the novice. The defence is complex, subtle, fluid and requires a high degree of positional understanding and defensive skill. It is one of the most complex responses to 1. e4 that Black can play. From this perspective it is amazing that the authors have written such a lucid book. Lev Alburt's didactic approach is enhanced by Alex Chernin's specialist knowledge. The end product is a superb book. I have read hundreds of opening books, but this ranks as one of the best, if not THE best. You will understand the Pirc defence after reading this book. While not every variation is covered, most are covered more than enough for the average club hacker. If you are below FIDE 2200 you will benefit from this book. However, having said that, I am not convinced that the class C to low B player should adopt this opening. But, if you like complex positions with plenty of room for originality and fluctuating pawn structures... go for it. You wont get a better guide than this book.

Not a bad book in itself, but the "revised & updated" 2nd edition is just the first edition with some very minor notes added a few times to the last part of the book. It has the same number of pages as, and is essentially identical to, the first edition. To describe it as "revised and updated" as it does on the cover is quite deceptive. So if you already have this book don't bother getting the 2nd edition, it's a complete rip off as it adds next to nothing.

For context, I'm a class C player with an estimated USCF rating somewhere between 1500 and 1600.

This is a book for the player who wants to understand the ideas behind the opening; not just recommended lines to be remembered by rote. The ideas include white's plans and possible counter-plans for black. It describes good plans and warns about plans to avoid.

The book is split into 3 parts:
1. How to use the book
2. General ideas and plans based on pawn structures that arise in the Pirc, and the role of individual pieces during the execution of those plans
3. Variations that are recommended for black for each of white's major options. This section of the book starts each section with diagrams of important positions to be remembered, and ends with diagrams showing critical positions and the best move for white or black.

The whole presentation of the material makes it obvious that the authors have years of experience in the field of chess training.

So, if I think the book is so good, why did I give it a 4-star rating instead of 5? Minor quibbles really:
1. The subtitle "A complete Defense Against 1. e4" is misleading. It could be the heart of a complete defense but, for one or two lines, the reader is referred to using another defense not covered in the book.
2. The general ideas given in Part 2 could have done with a little more context. In particular, you have to refer forward to Part 3 to find out why black cannot always use the "preferred" pawn structure where black gets the easiest play.

This is a reasonable though flawed introduction to the Pirc. It provides a useful introduction to the main ideas involved in the most important lines and also includes a moderate amount of detailed analysis. The flaws are of three types:

1. Annoying omissions. For example, there is no mention of White alternatives other than 2.d4. This would be acceptable in a book on topical variations or a review for players of 2000+ strength. But some discussion should really be included in a guide for club players, since (for example), 2.d3 and 2.f4 easily lead to lines with independent significance. A brief chapter addressing unorthodox White second moves doesn't seem too much to ask. Some of the subsections similarly omit White choices as early as move four or five that the Pirc player will see frequently.

2. The authors are far too glib in claiming that this opening can be essayed successfully with only a modest amount of theoretical knowledge. If you are looking for a response to 1.e4 that is playable without much study the Petroff, Scandinavian or forcing lines of the Ruy Lopez (e.g., Schliemann variation) would be a better choice. The strategic ideas in the Pirc are, in general, much clearer for White than for Black (especially the thematic h-pawn assault and associated king-side attack); the latter player therefore needs more theoretical preparation.

3. Discussion of middle game ideas are sometimes deficient. There are a lot of comments at the end of analyses such as: "and black gets good play." But there is often no discussion of the middle game themes and the typical club player will not find obvious the source of that play. The judicious addition of complete games with analysis would have beeen a good idea. But even the addition of more complete games without analysis would have helped to flesh out salient middle game and end game ideas without producing an unwieldy tome.

Despite its shortcomings, Pirc Alert is a useful introduction to the Pirc for the club player. But the tournament player will need supplemental sources to have hopes of real mastery.

I spent about 3 months going through this entire book and it really helped to improve my game as Black. I have several opening books and this is by far the best one. I would be shocked to find a better book on the Pirc or any other opening.

There is one very irritating shortcoming, though. The book only considers White's supposedly best 2nd move, d4, and offers little help for games where White does something else, like, say, d3. This causes problems for variations like Be3 (followed by Qd2 and a kingside attack), where the theoretical variation focuses on counterattacking the pawn center by ...c6, ...b5 (threatening b4), etc. If the evil white player plays d3, this plan is absolutely futile, and the basic plan by White is unchanged, leaving Black with no apparent plan (I came up with one later on my own -- after I got my butt stomped...). As an intermediate player, I see nonstandard openings by White in almost every game. There needs to be more discussion about how to play against the common nonstandard things that White can do. It seems that Pirc Alert and the other opening books (the others are FAR worse at this also) spend a great deal of time dealing with what to do against the enemy's best moves, but not very much effort on how to exploit nonstandard moves.

This is still a great book. I own about 10 chess books at this point, covering most of the major areas of the game, and this is the best of all my books. I just have the one little gripe listed above.

One aspect that I don't usually see in these reviews is physical quality. The is a very well-made book and has taken a tremendous amount of punishment from me with no sign of coming apart. The diagrams, paper quality, binding strength, print quality, etc are all excellent. Several of my other books are already threatening to come apart and I haven't spent half the time with them as Pirc Alert. The book would be less effective as a long-term opening manual if it did not possess these qualities.

Pirc Alert! By GM Lev Alburt and GM Alex Chernin is a fantastic opening book. The book is markedly better than other opening books in its presentation of the material. This book gives a complete defensive repertoire against 1. e4 for everyone, but especially the club and tournament player.

Pirc Alert! Is written by two world class GM's. Alburt is a three time US champion, and Chernin remains a world-class player and openings expert. Today, Alburt is a very successful chess trainer and writer and Chernin is the leading expert in the Pirc. The combination of these two and Executive Editor Al Lawrence has resulted in a fabulously produced opening manual that should set the standard that others will be compared with.

Alburt and Chernin emphasize that the Pirc relies heavily on understanding and less heavy on theory. To this end, they spend a great deal of time and effort on developing the Pirc players understanding of the ideas and strategies of the opening.
The book is separated into three parts:

Part I: About This Book, where Alburt explains the genesis of the book, presents his and Chernin's bonafides, and most importantly, explains how to use the book, and how to study an opening.Part I is 26 pages.

Part II: General Themes and Ideas is written by Chernin. He presents all the basic ideas, pawn structures, strategies for both sides and tactical opportunites. Alburt uses a whopping 181 pages in presenting this material. Everything is explained thoroughly and in a way that allows players of all levels above novice to understand easily.

Part III: Theoretical Variations is a joint effort to provide a repertoire by both authors and is built around central ideas. For players of higher levels, Chernin the Pirc expert, adds a special gift, his own theoretical novelties, clearly identified. This is almost unheard of, for a GM to give away his own secrets to the public, which includes his opponents. This part encompasses 230 pages.
As a player of fianchetto based openings, the KID, KIA, and Sicilian Accelerated Dragon, I found the instructional material transferable to other parts of my own repertoire.

I have read several reviews of this book before purchasing it, and found them to be mixed. Pirc pseudo-expert, having played the Pirc for over 25 years, Randy Bauer gives the book a good solid rating, but is critical of the way Alburt and Chernin present the ideas before the variations. I disagree. Alburt the very successful trainer, and Chernin a GM who has been very successful at teaching beginners and experts alike the opening feel that the student needs to know what to look for as they begin the study of an opening's theory. Additionally, they do not ignore the theoretical foundation. It's not like they ignore the theory in this part of the book, rather they point out ideas to look for in the various variations the reader will meet. Besides, if you are hung up on learning the theoretical foundation first, you can start with part three and then proceed to part two. Bauer also expresses concern over the choices of the repertoire as being drawish. He is joined in his concern by the highly regarded player and writer John Watson, who writes very serious chess books for higher-level players. I believe Chernin and Alburt have identified their main target audience as people such as myself, club level players who are seeking a good repertoire that is easy to learn and will give us good chances against our competition which usually consists of players rated below 2200 USCF, and mostly below 2000 USCF. With this in mind, I think GM Carsten Hansen is correct in his review in chesscafe.com. when he calls the book "Without a doubt this is the best general opening book I have seen for a very long time." Hansen also correctly points out that the book is not "aimed at the strongest players." I believe this is where Watson and Bauer miss the target in their reviews. Additionally, since Chernin is the world's leading expert on the Pirc and is much higher rated than Bauer and Watson, I believe his choices are best for the target audience. In fairness to Watson and Bauer do point out the value of the book for lower rated players. Watson in particular points out that mid level players and beginners to the Pirc, will gain a lot from the "extraordinary instructiveness of Pirc Alert! The superb 'Themes and Ideas' section" is "easily the best example I've seen of this idea-based approach."

Although the book is pricey, to me it is worth the price, as it is printed on high quality paper, and is beautifully presented. Add to that, you really do not need another book on a defense to 1. e4, and Chernin's assertion that because of the theoretical novelties, you really do not need to worry about something new invalidating one of the lines in the near future.

I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to learn the Pirc, find a repertoire for defending 1. e4 or plays fianchetto systems. I hope other authors copy this approach, and look forward to Alburt's upcoming companion volumes with repertoires for white, and defending against 1. d4 and other openings.

This book could be considered, in my opinion, as a model sample of non maintained promises.
The first half of the book is absolutely amazing: it starts with a lot of promises (like it or not, this is what every chess player wants from a chess book: the illusion to improve both his play and rating after reading it); then comes a section full of excellent explanation, which brings the reader to the third and final part in a very good mood: "ok, I undestood everything, now let's go to the theory and crush every white guy who dares to play 1. e4 ... with my Pirc letal weapon".
But now comes the bad news: the analytical part is completely disappointing. First of all, the repertoire is the same tired choices that other authors propose: against the Classical, the most boring middlegame positions I've never seen in my life; against the Austrian, the same, usual, Seirawan lines that, with best play by black, leads to a forced perpetual. To be honest, I'm really tired of this stuff: only to demonstrate theoretical equality, those authors ask me to play this kind of chess.

I rate this book 3 start because of the first part (which is really excellent) otherwise I'd given it 1 star.

I will write a more detailed review later. But this is THE book to buy if you play the Pirc. Players ABOVE 1900 will find it VERY useful.
(Why don't they ever put diagrams in a book from Black's side or perspective? I think there should be TWO versions of a book like this, one for a WHITE Pirc Player, and one for a BLACK Pirc Player!)
An overall nine out of a possible 10!


(09/2002) Addendum: I now have had this book for probably more than 6 months. (Several fans sent me a copy.) None of my original comments have changed. This is still THE book for the player who wants to play this line. ESPECIALLY if you are planning to play this line in postal or tournament chess!!

There are literally DOZENS of good things about this book, LOTS of explanations, in depth discussions of the tactical and strategic plans. (Etc.) This makes this an opening book SEVERAL levels above average!! It is even a good teaching vehicle! But it is also somewhat dense, several persons have e-mailed me and told me players below a certain rating (say 13-1500) may have a lot of difficulty understanding this treatise.

Now for the few drawbacks to this book. It is VERY much slanted to the player who wishes to play the BLACK side of this line, players of the White pieces will find themselves wondering where certain lines are covered. EXAMPLE: Let's start with the Austrian Attack. (Page # 213.) After the moves: 1.e4, d6; 2.d4, Nf6; 3.Nc3, g6; 4.f4, Bg7; 5.Nf3. Players of the White pieces would hope to find 5...0-0; covered in detail. But you WON'T! Why not? The authors simply pass over this move and recommend Black play 5...c5. Now this move IS covered in GREAT detail .... the authors have left almost no stone uncovered in their comprehensive analysis of these variations. But again, what if you are trying to learn these lines from the White side? (Simple answer: Better have MCO or NCO on the shelf!)

This scenario is repeated over and over. The writers of this book - top GM's who play this line - are telling you to play the lines that they play. (Kinda makes sense, don't it?) But again, players of the White side of the board are left out in the cold.

I could go on and on, but by now - I trust you get the point. Any player who wants to play (and really learn) the Black side of this difficult and uncompromising defence has got to buy this book. Players on the other side of the board - who play these lines - will also need this book; if for no other reason ... to see what lines Alburt and Chernin recommend to the 2nd player, and to plan their repertoire accordingly.

Any player (like me), expecting in depth and and encyclopedic coverage in a book that is 448 pages ... will be a little dissapointed.

PIrc Alert is an excellent discussion of the Pirc Defense that contains enough information and analysis for a player to be able to play that opening well with little additional reading.

The book is divided into two sections. The first details the essential ideas behind the Pirc, analyzing each concept individually while also comparing the Pirc to the Modern (or Robatsch) Defense. The discussion of the concepts behind the Pirc is comprehensive, but requires a lot of work from anyone studying it. Pirc Alert! demands a serious time commitment from anyone purchasing it -- this is not light reading!

The second part of the book is more difficult than the first and is its only poor element. It deals with theoretical elements of the Pirc, and for a beginner is both incredibly overwhelming and may hurt readers rather than helping them. Multiple strategies are laid out against most of white's responses, and I felt myself wanting to spend more time memorizing the theory section than studying the ideas. This is potentially devastating for any student of the Pirc because, as Lev Alburt writes in the introduciton to Pirc Alert, the Pirc rewards ideas rather than memorization. Memorization should be avoided by anyone reading this book until they have read the section on concepts so many times they can recite it verbatim.

The book is designed to be studied, and contains lots of diagrams -- so many, in fact, that it is virtually possible to study the book without a board at hand. Doing this is bad, as many of the points made by Alburt and Chernin about the Pirc are only evident when playing through the lines on a board. In the theory section especially, reading the book without a board is utterly self-destructive and dangerous.

Overall, Pirc Alert is a good book. The detail in which the authors go is extensive enough for most levels of play, but can overwhelm some less experienced players. If you are looking for a comprehensive and detailed introduciton to the Pirc, Pirc Alert is a good choice. It should, however, be avoided by beginners and studied only very carefully with a board in hand.