Pirc: 4.Be3, 150 Attack

Pirc: 4.Be3, 150 Attack

Definition

The “150 Attack” is a sharp, modern system for White against the Pirc Defence that begins with the move order 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3. It is so named because it was once associated with club players whose ratings hovered around 150 Elo “old British grade points” (roughly 1800 FIDE today). Despite its humble origins, the line has been adopted by elite grandmasters as a direct, attacking scheme that can also be used against the Modern Defence (1…g6, 2…Bg7 without …Nf6).

Typical Move-Order and Basic Idea

The first few moves set the stage for the main strategic themes:

1. e4 d6
2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 g6
4. Be3 Bg7
5. Qd2 c6 / 0-0 / a6 (many choices)
6. f3  …
7. 0-0-0 and a pawn storm with g4, h4, h5

In essence, White delays kingside development, quickly fortifies the e4-pawn with f3, castles long, and throws the g- and h-pawns at Black’s king. Black, in turn, counters in the centre with …e5, …c5 or on the queenside with …a6, …b5, sometimes castling long as well.

Strategic Themes

• Opposite-side castling: Leads to mutual pawn storms and sharp tactical positions.
• Dark-square control: By placing the bishop on e3 and queen on d2, White eyes the h6-square and often plans Bxh6 to rip open Black’s king.
• Flexible centre: White can support d4 with c2-c3 or advance e4-e5, while Black seeks …e5 or …c5 breaks to undermine the pawn chain.
• Piece manoeuvres: Black’s knight often heads to d7/f8, the light-squared bishop to g7, while White’s knights jump to e2 and g3 to support the kingside push.

Historical Development

• Early 1980s – The line gains traction in British weekend congresses. Players joked that you “only needed a 150 grade” to play it.
• 1990s – Grandmasters such as Vishy Anand, Michael Adams, and Nigel Short begin to use it, proving its soundness.
• 2000s - present – The variation becomes mainstream; theory branches into aggressive lines with …c6 and …b5, or more solid setups with …c5 and early …a6.

Model Game Snapshot

Below is a compact PGN illustrating the typical attacking pattern:

White has castled long, pushed the kingside pawns, opened lines toward h7, and is ready to sacrifice on f5/h5. Black’s queenside expansion with …b5, …a6 sets the stage for counter-play against the white king.

Famous Encounters

• Anand vs. Adams, Linares 1993: Anand uncorked a blistering attack with 4.Be3 and won in 30 moves, popularising the system among top players.
• Kasparov vs. Svidler, Astana 2001: Though Svidler survived the initial onslaught, Kasparov’s pawn storm demonstrated the line’s venom and forced Black into passive defence.
• Karjakin vs. Radjabov, Wijk aan Zee 2006: A textbook illustration of Bxh6 and h-pawn sacrifices leading to a mating net.

Typical Tactical Motifs

• Bxh6! – Sacrificing the dark-squared bishop to rip open g7-h6 and clear lines for queen and rook.
• h5-h6 advance: Cramping Black’s kingside and anchoring a knight on g5 or f6.
• Exchange sac …Rxc3 / …Bxc3: Black often gives an exchange on c3 to blunt the b1-h7 diagonal and open the b-file for counter-play.
• Central break …e5 / …c5: Timed correctly, these pawn breaks can refute a slow White build-up and free Black’s pieces.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• The name “150 Attack” reportedly originated in Birmingham, England, where club players with a BCF grade of 150 regularly unleashed it on unsuspecting opponents.
• Grandmaster Julian Hodgson was an early evangelist, employing the system in weekend tournaments before it became trendy at elite level.
• Because the setup is nearly identical against the Pirc and the Modern Defence, it offers great practical value—you learn one attacking scheme and get two openings “for the price of one.”
• The line appeals to computer engines: modern evaluations often show a slight edge for White thanks to space and attacking chances, encouraging its resurgence in online blitz.

Why Choose the 150 Attack?

• Straightforward plan: Castle long, push pawns, mate.
• Theory-light: Compared with the Austrian Attack (4.f4), concrete memorisation is less demanding.
• Psychological edge: Forces Black into narrow, tactical territory from move 5.

Further Study Suggestions

Review the annotated games of Anand, Short, and Tiviakov in this line, practice typical pawn-storm positions against engines, and study model endings where White’s attack fizzles and accurate defence is needed.