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Vasja Pirc
Number of games in database: 420
Years covered: 1929 to 1967
Overall record: +105 -104 =210 (50.1%)*
   * Overall winning percentage = (wins+draws/2) / total games
      Based on games in the database; may be incomplete.
      1 exhibition game, odds game, etc. is excluded from this statistic.

MOST PLAYED OPENINGS
With the White pieces:
 Slav (22) 
    D11 D12 D10 D18 D16
 Orthodox Defense (18) 
    D68 D64 D54 D55 D50
 King's Indian Attack (18) 
    A07 A08
 Reti System (15) 
    A04 A06 A05
 Queen's Pawn Game (14) 
    D02 D05 A46 A40 D04
 Queen's Gambit Declined (14) 
    D30 D31 D39 D37
With the Black pieces:
 Sicilian (40) 
    B32 B85 B36 B83 B58
 Orthodox Defense (24) 
    D52 D63 D59 D58 D54
 Queen's Pawn Game (20) 
    A41 A46 D04 E10 D02
 Nimzo Indian (18) 
    E21 E23 E53 E32 E48
 Queen's Indian (14) 
    E14 E17 E19 E18 E15
 Pirc (12) 
    B07 B08 B09
Repertoire Explorer

NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
   Nimzowitsch vs Pirc, 1931 0-1
   Pirc vs Tylor, 1938 1-0
   Spielmann vs Pirc, 1938 0-1
   Szabo vs Pirc, 1962 0-1
   Alekhine vs Pirc, 1930 0-1

GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
   Noordwijk 1938 by sneaky pete
   Hastings 1938/39 by sneaky pete
   Vasja Pirc by TheAlchemist

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VASJA PIRC
(born Dec-19-1907, died Jun-02-1980) Yugoslavia

[what is this?]
Vasja Pirc (pronounced PEERTS) was born on the 19th of December 1907 in Idrija, in what later became Yugoslavia. Awarded the IM title in 1950 and the GM title in 1953 he was Yugoslav Champion in 1935 (jointly), 1936, 1937, 1948 (jointly) and 1953 (jointly).

An historian and prolific author he contributed a great deal to opening theory, e.g. the Pirc (B07) Defence is named after him. His best tournament results were in the 1930's, 1st at Novi Sad 1936, 1st at Lodz 1938 and 1st at Bad Haezburg 1938. Later on he was 1st= with Hans Bouwmeester at the Hoogovens Tournament at Beverwijk in 1954. He also drew a match in 1949 with Max Euwe (+2, =6, -2). He passed away in Ljubljana in 1980.


 page 1 of 17; games 1-25 of 420  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves Year Event/LocaleOpening
1. Pirc vs Flohr  0-152 1929 Rogaska Slatina SLOE22 Nimzo-Indian, Spielmann Variation
2. Przepiorka vs Pirc  ½-½34 1929 Rogaska Slatina SLOA46 Queen's Pawn Game
3. H Geiger vs Pirc  0-148 1929 Rogaska Slatina SLOD47 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
4. Samisch vs Pirc  0-124 1929 Rogaska Slatina SLOD52 Queen's Gambit Declined
5. Pirc vs Rubinstein ½-½56 1929 Rogaska Slatina SLOD31 Queen's Gambit Declined
6. Pirc vs Ahues  ½-½32 1930 Frankfurt GERD37 Queen's Gambit Declined
7. Colle vs Pirc  0-156 1930 Frankfurt GERA46 Queen's Pawn Game
8. Pirc vs P M List  0-164 1930 Frankfurt GERE22 Nimzo-Indian, Spielmann Variation
9. N Mannheimer vs Pirc  0-131 1930 Frankfurt GERA50 Queen's Pawn Game
10. Pirc vs W Orbach  1-036 1930 Frankfurt GERA13 English
11. G A Thomas vs Pirc  ½-½51 1930 Frankfurt GERB32 Sicilian
12. Mieses vs Pirc  ½-½31 1930 Frankfurt GERB15 Caro-Kann
13. Alekhine vs Pirc 0-148 1930 Ljubljana blitzE20 Nimzo-Indian
14. Pirc vs Samisch  ½-½30 1930 Frankfurt GERA28 English
15. Pirc vs Przepiorka  0-151 1930 Frankfurt GERD52 Queen's Gambit Declined
16. Kashdan vs Pirc  ½-½59 1930 Frankfurt GERD15 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav
17. Nimzowitsch vs Pirc  1-058 1930 Frankfurt GERB10 Caro-Kann
18. Pirc vs Flohr  ½-½14 1931 BledD90 Grunfeld
19. Pirc vs Nimzowitsch  ½-½36 1931 BledE15 Queen's Indian
20. L Asztalos vs Pirc  ½-½17 1931 BledB83 Sicilian
21. Alekhine vs Pirc  1-038 1931 Bled (20)E10 Queen's Pawn Game
22. B Kostic vs Pirc  1-045 1931 BledB12 Caro-Kann Defense
23. Kashdan vs Pirc  ½-½60 1931 BledD17 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav
24. Spielmann vs Pirc  1-042 1931 BledD43 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav
25. Pirc vs Colle  0-131 1931 BledE17 Queen's Indian
 page 1 of 17; games 1-25 of 420  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2) | Pirc wins | Pirc loses  

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 3 OF 3 ·  Later Kibitzing >
Aug-22-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Phony Benoni: I'm sorry if people took offense at my last post. It was meant to be a joke, not a comment on the merits of the Pirc.

Considering my lifetime record against the Pirc, I have no right to make fun of it.

Aug-22-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  TheAlchemist: <Phony Benoni> In an open tournament I participated once (there were a few GMs and IMs too), the Pirc appeared on the top 4 boards in the same round. But the stage of the tournament was a coffeehouse, so... :-)
Dec-19-06   James Bowman: <Phony Benoni> It was just a silly pun, hopefully nobody could be offended by that this site specializes in them.
Dec-19-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  Domdaniel: <An Englishman> 'Er-ver' for Euwe is fine if you happen to be, well, an Englishman. English English tends not to pronounce the letter 'r' and to use it to lengthen the preceding vowel. But in Scotland, Ireland, and parts of America where 'r' is pronounced (the rhotic zones), Eh-veh or Uh-veh is closer.

As a child I had serious trouble reconciling Eeyore with Heehaw.

Dec-20-06
Premium Chessgames Member
  keypusher: <domdaniel> Thanks, now I can mispronouce the name in four different dialects!
Jan-23-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  Resignation Trap: The year 2007 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Vasja Pirc. To commemorate this event, Slovenia will issue a new stamp tomorrow: http://www.posta.si/DezelaZnamk/Vie... .
Mar-22-07   Emma: According to this database Pirc never played the pirc. mmmmmmm
Mar-22-07   nescio: <Emma: According to this database Pirc never played the pirc. mmmmmmm>

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches...

Dec-19-07   DarthStapler: One of my teachers, a Russian master, always uses the Pirc defense. I keep trying to find a line to surprise him and win.
Dec-19-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tomlinsky: <DarthStapler: One of my teachers, a Russian master, always uses the Pirc defense. I keep trying to find a line to surprise him and win.>

Well, that's a tall order of course. I prefer the Byrne Variation with 4.Bg5 5.f4 followed by an e5 push over a straight Austrian Attack. Very sharp and aggressive but great fun if you know your lines and plans.

Start here maybe... Opening Explorer and I would also recommend going through these games... http://www.chessgames.com/perl/ches... involving that great Pirc adherent Alexander Chernin as a starting point.

Dec-19-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  brankat: I had a good fortune to meet Mr.Pirc on 3 occasions between 1968-1977. A true gentleman, a great master, always willing to share his immense knowledge and experience.

100 years! Wow! Happy Birthday dear Sir!

Dec-19-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  Tomlinsky: <brankat> That's extremely cool. Did you ever get to play the man at all? I've acquired a great respect for the Pirc over the years. Great fun with razor-sharp and wild as hell lines in what I always used to view as a pretty stoic defence for some reason.
Dec-19-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  whiskeyrebel: Double thumbs up to you brankat. Having used his defense for scores of OTB games as a kid way back when, I feel compelled at this moment to bow to Mr. Pirc in front of my imac. I picked up the Pirc initially from playing over Hort games actually. Then, I saw what the Canadian's in B.C. were doing with the modern defense and became a 1..g6 player. The Pirc and the modern go together though like bisquits and gravy.
Dec-19-07   RookFile: The guy always perks me up.
Dec-19-07
Premium Chessgames Member
  porgue: See, even Pirc used the Sicilian as his main weapon!
Dec-19-07   xrt999: the pirc defense is lame.
Jan-06-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  brankat: <Tomlinsky> I played Mr.Pirc only in 1 simul game, way back in the summer of 1968. I was 17 at the time, and participated in the U-19 Championship of Croatia (then 1 of former Yugoslav republics/provinces).

Half way through the tourney we had a day off, and V.Pirc then gave a simul against all the players (23). There were some 5-6 draws, I don't think he lost a single game.

And, yes I appropriately played the Pirc! I managed to draw the R+P vs. R ending :-) I believe the GM was very pleased with my choice of the opening. When he approached my board for his second move he was all smiles :-)

Jan-06-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  brankat: <whiskeyrebel> I haven't played the Pirc in ages. But when I was young. I did play use it from time to time. The same with the similar QID against <1.d4>. Usually when facing opponents who I knew to be stronger than me.

My approach there was, to be patient, try to build a position with no real weaknesses, and wait for the "enemy" to overextend. Mostly with his pawns :-)

Which they did most of the time, knowing/or thinking they were stronger, and feeling provoked to be "aggressive". Had me a few nice scores using this kind of an approach :-)

Jan-16-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  brankat: It would be nice to have a photo of Vasja Pirc to go with his Biography.
Sep-06-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  just a kid: I have the same birthdate as him! =)12/19/95 for me though
Sep-16-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  brankat: <just a kid> Don't worry, You're getting there, slowly, but surely :-)
Sep-16-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  just a kid: I used his opening against Open Defence in my forum.I am in a sticky situation though.
Sep-16-08   apple pi: Don't worry - you're not the first of OD's victims!
Sep-17-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  just a kid: <apple pi>And probably not the last... =)
Sep-18-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  brankat: <just a kid> <apple pi>

A kid for breakfast, that's <Open Defence>'s approach. Even had me for lunch, although I'm not really what You'd call a kid anymore :-)

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