Byrne Variation | Pirc Defense Opening Theory

The Byrne Variation is a very tricky sideline white could use to get black out of his Pirc comfort zone.

For an introduction to the Pirc Defense, watch this video on the basics:    • Pirc Defense | Ideas, Principles and ...  

The variation was named after Robert Eugene Byrne, an American grandmaster who employed it with success in the 1960s. The idea behind it is similar to the 150 Attack (   • 150 Attack | Pirc Defense Opening Theory  ), and white aims to develop the queen to e2 and put pressure on black’s fianchettoed defender with Bh6 and an exchange.

Black, however, does not have to allow that. There are three main ways to meet Bg5. Black can either respond with the move Bg7, seemingly going into white’s hands, but then, after Qd2, following up with h6 and forcing the bishop to retreat, or black can play h6 immediately to chase the bishop away either to e3 or to h4. So the move Bg5 is provocative, but it’s also a target for blacks tempi, and if white isn’t careful, the bishop could end up half dead on g3.

Black’s best response to the Byrne Variation is the move c6. This move prepares the simple queenside expansion with the move b5. That will deter white from his normal play of castling long and going for a queenside attack since the move b4, dislodging the c3 knight is soon to follow and black could easily end up on the winning side of an attacking opposite side castling game.

White will therefore change his plans if necessary, and adapt to black’s play. The good thing for white is that, no matter which continuation black chooses, black will have to relinquish the normal Pirc hyper-modern plan of castling and then breaking open the white center because the variation simply never allows enough time for that to happen.

In any case, the Byrne Variation might be the best was to get black out of his opening preparation and to just play chess.

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