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CHESS UNPLUGGED | Sometimes, I just like to unwind by not thinking too hard, play a couple of quick casual unrated games, while listening to some slow jazz! 😌♟️🎵

Since my last Noob vs Noob UNPLUGGED video, the channel has continued to grow strongly, currently at more than 26,000 subscribers!

This morning, I woke a bit early so decided to play some unplugged chess with some coffee. Surprisingly, I played two consecutive games against the Pirc Defense, something that I don’t usually face very often.

* * *

In the first game, my opponent played the Pirc/Modern with (e6 and g6), and against this, I’m a fan of the “three pawns attack”/Austrian tactic (d4-e4-f4)!

Conceptually, we punish Black’s tentative approach by boldly taking space in the centre and will aim to develop our king’s knight behind the f-pawn. As someone who plays the Vienna Gambit, I love my f4/f5-pawn openings, and I’d previously described and evaluated all 99 named f4/f5 openings. I knew that this was an effective way to play with White!

Unfortunately for Black, they didn’t know how to play the Pirc/Modern with a curious (3… Qd7?!), flagging that they were probably a beginner. This game is also a salutary lesson on why you should avoid developing your queen early, unless it is part of well-established theory. On turn 7, I decided to play a tricky aggressive knight attack (7. Ng5!?), which Black did not correctly foil. Placing pressure on the opponent’s f2/f7 square can often be a winning tactic. The cramped space resulted in no freedom of movement for Black’s pieces, and on turn 12, I was very pleased to have found a way to trap Black’s queen, and more than that, I’d been seeking it for the past couple of turns!

The rest of the game was just mopping up pieces. I carelessly hung a knight on turn 19, but this made no difference as I was still up 14 points of material. My opponent bravely played on for another ten turns but then abandoned the game (don’t be that guy!).

* * *

In the second game, Black was also likely a beginner, and they played the Pirc Defense: Maróczy Defense, which I wasn’t familiar with.

This particular opening, trading pawns opening the d-file, and then trading queens is named after a game that ended in a draw between two early masters of Hypermodernism, Geza Maróczy with Black, and Richard Réti with White: Réti—Maróczy, 1923, Carlsbad, Czech Republic.

Fascinatingly, although Black loses the right to castle, tactically a seemingly consequential concession, Stockfish considers the position still mostly equal with an evaluation of only [+0.3]. In practice, it is probably much easier to play with the white pieces and indeed in the Lichess community database, White wins 53% to Black 40% from the position. In the game, I just played some immediate threats (5. Nf3), and Black blundered immediately with (5… Bg4??). With the queens off the board, the “Ruy López” bishop isn’t pinning the knight, which leaps forward to capture Black’s e-pawn (6. Nxe5), threatening to chain an attack on Black’s f7-pawn which comes with an absolute fork of Black’s king and h8-rook!

The rest of the game involved some simple tactical play, with the goal to trade down by offering, or forcing balanced piece trades. Like the first game, Black was a good sport and played on in a losing position, but eventually resigned on turn 23, defeated. Good game, GG!

* * *

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[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2025.10.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Random Noob"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "600"]
[Termination "vitualis won - game abandoned"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/2QzBRMgHLi/analysis"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.db4cf652.32x32o.24721df14a75@2x.png"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl ""]
[BlackCountry "225"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:09:57.4][%timestamp 26]} 1... d6 {[%clk 0:09:58.1][%timestamp 19]
Pirc Defense} 2. d4 {[%clk 0:09:54.7][%timestamp 27]} 2... g6 {[%clk
0:09:56.5][%timestamp 16] transpose: Modern Defense} 3. f4 {[%clk
0:09:40.1][%timestamp 146] One approach to the tentative approach to the
Pirc/Modern is to boldly take space with the \"three pawns\" tactic. In some
lines, this is named, for instance, the \"Austrian Attack\".} 3... Qd7 $2 {[%clk
0:09:51.4][%timestamp 51][%c_effect
d7;square;d7;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f8g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f8;to;g7;persistent;false,c7c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;c7;to;c6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false,c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false]
This is a bit of a weird move, and suggested to me that Black didn't know how to
play this opening. This tells me to try to go for an big attack $1} 4. Nf3 {[%clk
0:09:28.8][%timestamp 113]} 4... b6 $6 {[%clk 0:09:48.9][%timestamp 25][%c_effect
b6;square;b6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f8g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f8;to;g7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false]} 5. Bc4 {[%clk
0:09:27.1][%timestamp 17]} 5... Bb7 {[%clk 0:09:43.2][%timestamp 57]} 6. Nc3
{[%clk 0:09:09.6][%timestamp 175] Just develop $1 This is rarely a bad idea.} 6...
Nf6 $6 {[%clk 0:09:39.4][%timestamp 38][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f8g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f8;to;g7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false]} 7. Ng5 $5 {[%clk
0:08:59.3][%timestamp 103][%c_arrow
d1e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;d1;to;e2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false][%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] This was a tricky and aggressive
move. Stockfish doesn't like it, preferring to add a defender to the e4-pawn
with Qe2. However, this is not easy to navigate for a beginner. Black needs to
find d5.} 7... h6 $4 {[%clk 0:09:28.1][%timestamp 113][%c_effect
h6;square;h6;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
h6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h6;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false][%c_arrow
d6d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;d6;to;d5;persistent;false] This blunders
as my knight on g5 isn't just defending the e4 pawn, but also teaming up with my
c4-bishop to attack Black's f7-pawn $1} 8. Bxf7+ $1 {[%clk 0:08:35][%timestamp
243][%c_effect f7;square;f7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false]} 8... Kd8 {[%clk
0:09:19.7][%timestamp 84]} 9. Ne6+ {[%clk 0:08:13.1][%timestamp 219]} 9... Kc8
{[%clk 0:09:12.2][%timestamp 75]} 10. d5 {[%clk 0:07:18.2][%timestamp 549]}
10... Rh7 {[%clk 0:09:01.4][%timestamp 108]} 11. Bxg6 {[%clk
0:07:10.7][%timestamp 75][%c_arrow
g6h7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;g6;to;h7;persistent;false,g6f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;g6;to;f5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h7;persistent;false,f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false]
My goal was Bf5 to set up an attack on Black's queen $1} 11... Rh8 {[%clk
0:08:45.6][%timestamp 158]} 12. Bf5 {[%clk 0:07:05.4][%timestamp 53] And Black's
queen is trapped $1 If the queen doesn't move, then moving the e6-knight is a
discovered absolute pin of the queen. If the queen moves to the single safe
square (Qe8), then Ng7 is a discovered check with the knight attacking the
queen $1} 12... Qb5 $4 {[%clk 0:07:58][%timestamp 476][%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false] Against the pressure,
Black \"blunders\" the queen without compensation} ({If Black doesn't move the
queen...} 12... c5 13. Nxf8 {[%c_arrow
f5d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f5;to;d7;persistent;false,d7c8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;d7;to;c8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false,c8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c8;persistent;false]
A discovered pin winning the queen $1}) ({If Black moves the queen to the only
\"safe\" square...} 12... Qe8 13. Ng7+ {[%c_arrow
f5c8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f5;to;c8;persistent;false,g7e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;g7;to;e8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c8;persistent;false,e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false]
A discovered check and attack on Black's queen $1}) 13. Nxb5 {[%clk
0:07:00.8][%timestamp 46]} 13... c6 {[%clk 0:07:20.3][%timestamp 377]} 14. Nxf8+
{[%clk 0:06:57.7][%timestamp 31][%c_arrow
f5c8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f5;to;c8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c8;persistent;false]} 14... Kd8 {[%clk
0:07:04][%timestamp 163]} 15. Ne6+ {[%clk 0:06:53.1][%timestamp 46][%c_arrow
e6d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e6;to;d8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false]} 15... Ke8 {[%clk
0:07:01.3][%timestamp 27]} 16. Nbc7+ {[%clk 0:06:49.6][%timestamp 35][%c_arrow
c7e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;c7;to;e8;persistent;false,c7a8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;c7;to;a8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false,a8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a8;persistent;false]
Brutality $1} 16... Kf7 {[%clk 0:06:56.9][%timestamp 44]} 17. Nxa8 {[%clk
0:06:39.1][%timestamp 105]} 17... cxd5 {[%clk 0:06:52.2][%timestamp 47]} 18.
Nac7 {[%clk 0:06:29.5][%timestamp 96]} 18... dxe4 {[%clk 0:06:45.2][%timestamp
70]} 19. Nd5 $2 {[%clk 0:05:58.3][%timestamp 312][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Whoops $1} 19... Bxd5 {[%clk
0:06:34.4][%timestamp 108]} 20. O-O {[%clk 0:05:42.6][%timestamp 157]} 20... Rg8
{[%clk 0:06:03.1][%timestamp 313]} 21. g3 {[%clk 0:05:38.7][%timestamp 39]}
21... Bxe6 {[%clk 0:05:50.9][%timestamp 122]} 22. Bxe6+ {[%clk
0:05:36.8][%timestamp 19]} 22... Kxe6 {[%clk 0:05:48][%timestamp 29]} 23. f5+
{[%clk 0:05:34.6][%timestamp 22]} 23... Kd7 {[%clk 0:05:42.5][%timestamp 55]}
24. Bxh6 {[%clk 0:05:29.7][%timestamp 49]} 24... Nc6 {[%clk
0:05:17.4][%timestamp 251]} 25. c3 {[%clk 0:05:27.4][%timestamp 23]} 25... Rg5 $4
{[%clk 0:04:58][%timestamp 194][%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false]} 26. Bxg5 {[%clk
0:05:26.2][%timestamp 12]} 26... Ng4 $4 {[%clk 0:04:50.5][%timestamp
75][%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false]} 27. Qxg4 {[%clk
0:05:11.6][%timestamp 146]} 27... e3 {[%clk 0:04:48.6][%timestamp 19]} 28. Bxe3
{[%clk 0:05:10][%timestamp 16]} 28... Ne5 {[%clk 0:04:45.3][%timestamp 33]} 29.
Qa4+ {[%clk 0:05:01.9][%timestamp 81][%c_effect
g1;square;g1;type;Winner;animated;true,d7;square;d7;type;ResignBlack;animated;true]
It's fantastic that Black continued to play on, but at this point, it's
hopeless. Good game, GG $1} 1-0


[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2025.10.13"]
[Round "?"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Random Noob"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "600"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/2xgD1SB8Zt/analysis"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.db4cf652.32x32o.24721df14a75@2x.png"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl ""]
[BlackCountry "225"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:09:59.5][%timestamp 5]} 1... d6 {[%clk 0:09:54.1][%timestamp 59]
Pirc Defense} 2. d4 {[%clk 0:09:55.7][%timestamp 38]} 2... e5 {[%clk
0:09:50.9][%timestamp 32] The Maróczy Defense: I'm not very familiar with it,
but there is an immediate opportunity to open the d-file, something that often
results in flashy opening attacks $1} 3. dxe5 {[%clk 0:09:45][%timestamp 107]}
3... dxe5 {[%clk 0:09:43.5][%timestamp 74]} 4. Qxd8+ {[%clk
0:09:43.4][%timestamp 16] Black is technically \"okay\" with this early loss of
queens. However, it's much better and easier for White to play.} 4... Kxd8
{[%clk 0:09:41.1][%timestamp 24]} 5. Nf3 {[%clk 0:09:41.1][%timestamp 23]} 5...
Bg4 $4 {[%clk 0:09:38.5][%timestamp 26][%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false] Normally, this pins
the knight but as there are no queens, it just blunders the e5-pawn $1} 6. Nxe5
{[%clk 0:09:38.5][%timestamp 26][%c_arrow
e5g4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e5;to;g4;persistent;false,e5f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;e5;to;f7;persistent;false,f7d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f7;to;d8;persistent;false,f7h8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f7;to;h8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false,f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false,h8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h8;persistent;false]}
6... f6 $4 {[%clk 0:09:33.4][%timestamp 51][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false,e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false][%c_arrow
g4e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;g4;to;e6;persistent;false] Clearly a
beginner player...} 7. Nf7+ {[%clk 0:09:36.9][%timestamp 16][%c_arrow
f7d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f7;to;d8;persistent;false,f7h8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;f7;to;h8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false,h8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h8;persistent;false]
Always keep an eye on possible aggressive tactics $1} 7... Ke8 {[%clk
0:09:26.7][%timestamp 67]} 8. Nxh8 {[%clk 0:09:36.5][%timestamp 4]} 8... Bb4+
{[%clk 0:09:24.1][%timestamp 26]} 9. c3 {[%clk 0:09:34.8][%timestamp 17]} 9...
Bc5 {[%clk 0:09:13.3][%timestamp 108]} 10. Bc4 {[%clk 0:09:31.8][%timestamp
30][%c_arrow
c4f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;c4;to;f7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false] Development, and help
to evacuate the knight} 10... Ne7 {[%clk 0:09:09.2][%timestamp 41]} 11. Nf7
{[%clk 0:09:30][%timestamp 18]} 11... Nbc6 {[%clk 0:09:04.7][%timestamp 45]} 12.
O-O {[%clk 0:08:59.5][%timestamp 305]} 12... Ne5 {[%clk 0:08:53.6][%timestamp
111][%c_arrow
g4h5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;g4;to;h5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h5;persistent;false] Tactically a mistake
as my f7-knight is still trapped, and this now allows for a balanced trade $1} 13.
Nxe5 {[%clk 0:08:57.9][%timestamp 16]} 13... fxe5 {[%clk 0:08:52.2][%timestamp
14]} 14. Be3 {[%clk 0:08:49.9][%timestamp 80] Aim to simplify} 14... Bb6 {[%clk
0:08:41.4][%timestamp 108]} 15. Bxb6 {[%clk 0:08:47.6][%timestamp 23]} 15...
axb6 {[%clk 0:08:39.8][%timestamp 16]} 16. f3 {[%clk 0:08:42.3][%timestamp 53]}
16... Bh5 {[%clk 0:08:33.2][%timestamp 66]} 17. Nd2 {[%clk 0:08:36.6][%timestamp
57]} 17... Rd8 {[%clk 0:08:29.5][%timestamp 37]} 18. Nb3 {[%clk
0:08:33.6][%timestamp 30]} 18... c6 {[%clk 0:08:23.2][%timestamp 63]} 19. Rad1
{[%clk 0:08:31.5][%timestamp 21] Aim to simplify} 19... b5 {[%clk
0:08:16.3][%timestamp 69]} 20. Be6 {[%clk 0:08:23.8][%timestamp 77][%c_arrow
d1d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;from;d1;to;d8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false] I realised that it
would have been more forcing to exchange rooks first} 20... Bf7 $4 {[%clk
0:07:57][%timestamp 193][%c_effect
f7;square;f7;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false] This blunders the
bishop} 21. Rxd8+ {[%clk 0:08:21.8][%timestamp 20]} 21... Kxd8 {[%clk
0:07:54.3][%timestamp 27]} 22. Bxf7 {[%clk 0:08:21.1][%timestamp 7]} 22... b6
{[%clk 0:07:45.2][%timestamp 91]} 23. Rd1+ {[%clk 0:08:18.8][%timestamp 23]}
23... Kc7 {[%clk 0:07:41.9][%timestamp 33][%c_effect
g1;square;g1;type;Winner;animated;true,c7;square;c7;type;ResignBlack;animated;true]
Black resigns, good game, GG $1} 1-0