Welcome to my Pirc Defense game with Bob Magabulos page!

On this page I have posted one my chess games in which I played the Black side of the Pirc Defense. The game includes analysis and diagrams.

Rhine Main November Open
Rhine Main AFB, Frankfurt, Germany
Round 1
16 November 1985
White: Bob Magabulos (1823) Black: Mike Serovey (1499)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4

Pirc Defense after 3... cxd4.

I was trying for the Benko Gambit but my opponent avoided this with 3. Nf3 instead of 3. d5. At this point in my chess career I usually captured the d pawn immediately. Now, I usually wait a few moves to see if White will play the d pawn to d5.

4. Nxd4 d6 5. Nc3 Qc7

Pirc Defense after 5... Qc7.

I don't normally develop my Queen this early in a game but did so here to attack White's c pawn. My next move was simply to prevent White from moving either Knight to c5 attacking my Queen. At this point the game looks a little like a Sicilian Defense except that White never did play his pawn to e4.

6. b3 a6 7. Bb2 g6 8. e3 Bg7 9. Be2 O-O

Pirc Defense after 9... 0-0.

At this point I think that we have an odd variation of the Pirc Defense. However, Black soon switches his attack from the Queenside to the Kingside and catches White napping.

10. O-O Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. f4 Qa7

Pirc Defense after 12... Qa7.

Although White has a slight lead in development I believe that Black has a better position. White's last move weakened the pawn structure around his King and made his e pawn a target that Black eventually wins.

13. Rf3 Bg4!

Pirc Defense after 13... Bg4!

Black now has all of his pieces developed and is hitting both the e pawn and the Rook defending that pawn. White really has no place to put his Rook so that it can defend the e pawn and not get harassed by Black's minor pieces.

14. Rg3 Bxe2 15. Nxe2 Nh5!

Pirc Defense after 15... Nh5!

Black is now attacking both the Bishop at b2 and the Rook at g3. White missed the fact that if he allows the Rook at g3 to fall the pawn at e3 is no longer protected! White can try 16. Bd4 here and after that Black can play 16... Bxd4 17. Nxd4 Nxg3 and White is now down the exchange. Now 18. hxg3 or 18. Nxh3 both allow 18... Qxe3+ and 18. Nxc6 attacking the Queen allows 18... Qxe3+ followed by 19... Nxe2.

16. Bxg7? Nxg3

Pirc Defense after 16... Nxg3.

Black is now up the exchange and is threatening checkmate. White got greedy and grabbed the Black Rook walking into checkmate. Better here is 17. Nxg3 Qxe3+ 18. K-any Kxg7 and Black would be up a pawn and the exchange.

17. Bxf8?? Qxe3# 0-1

Pirc Defense after 17... Qxe3# (Final position).

Bob missed that fact that Black's last move checkmated him, so he moved his King to h1. So, I captured his King with my Knight to show him that he made an illegal move. I believe that this was the first time that I beat an 1800 rated player, but it wasn't the last!

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