Pirc and Modern: Be3 and Qd2 is variation 4 of 6 in the Beating 1.e4 sidelines course, a intermediate opening course for White (ECO B07). It runs 20 moves and begins 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 …. White builds a simple set-up with Nc3, Be3 and Qd2, then castles long. The bishop goes to h6 to trade off Black's best defender. Both sides attack, but White's attack comes fast. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. e4 – White takes the centre.
1... d6 – The Pirc Defence. Black lets White build a centre and plans to attack it later.
2. d4 – White takes the centre with two pawns.
2... Nf6 – The knight attacks e4.
3. Nc3 – White defends e4 and develops.
3... g6 – Black gets ready to put the bishop on g7.
4. Be3 – White starts the plan. The bishop and queen will aim at h6.
4... Bg7 – The bishop goes to its long diagonal.
5. Qd2 – The queen and bishop line up. Next the bishop can go to h6.
5... O-O – Black castles. The king goes to the side where White attacks.
6. O-O-O – White castles long. Now White can push the kingside pawns.
6... c6 – Black prepares a pawn storm on the queenside.
7. f3 – The pawn guards e4 and g4. It keeps Black's knights out.
7... b5 – Black starts the queenside attack.
8. Bh6 – White offers the bishop trade. Without the g7 bishop, Black's king is weak.
8... b4 – Black chases the c3 knight.
The lesson goes on for 4 more moves, each with its explanation.
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