Semi-Open Game
Encyclopedia
A Semi-Open Game is a chess opening
in which White plays 1.e4 and Black breaks symmetry immediately by replying with a move other than 1...e5.
The Semi-Open Games are also called Single King Pawn Games, and are the complement of the Open Games or Double King Pawn Games which begin 1.e4 e5.
, but the French
and the Caro-Kann are also very popular. The Pirc and the Modern
are also commonly seen, while the Alekhine
and the Scandinavian
have made occasional appearances in World Chess Championship
games. The Nimzowitsch is playable but rare, as is Owen's Defense
. The Borg Defense and the St. George Defense are oddities, although Tony Miles
once used St. George's Defense to defeat then World Champion Anatoly Karpov
.
The Sicilian and French Defenses lead to unbalanced positions that can offer exciting play with both sides having chances to win. The Caro-Kann Defense is solid as Black intends to use his c-pawn to support his center (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5). Alekhine's, the Pirc and the Modern are hypermodern
openings in which Black tempts White to build a large center with the goal of attacking it with pieces.
Chess opening
A chess opening is the group of initial moves of a chess game. Recognized sequences of opening moves are referred to as openings as initiated by White or defenses, as created in reply by Black. There are many dozens of different openings, and hundreds of named variants. The Oxford Companion to...
in which White plays 1.e4 and Black breaks symmetry immediately by replying with a move other than 1...e5.
The Semi-Open Games are also called Single King Pawn Games, and are the complement of the Open Games or Double King Pawn Games which begin 1.e4 e5.
Popular defenses
The most popular Black defense to 1.e4 is the SicilianSicilian Defence
The Sicilian Defence is a chess opening that begins with the moves:The Sicilian is the most popular and best-scoring response to White's first move 1.e4...
, but the French
French Defence
The French Defence is a chess opening. It is characterised by the moves:The French has a reputation for solidity and resilience, though it can result in a somewhat cramped game for Black in the early stages...
and the Caro-Kann are also very popular. The Pirc and the Modern
Modern Defense
The Modern Defense is a hypermodern chess opening in which Black allows White to occupy the center with pawns on d4 and e4, then proceeds to attack and undermine this "ideal" center without attempting to occupy it himself...
are also commonly seen, while the Alekhine
Alekhine's Defence
Alekhine's Defence is a hypermodern chess opening that begins with the moves:Black tempts White's pawns forward to form a broad pawn centre, with plans to undermine and attack the White structure later in the spirit of hypermodern defence. White's imposing mass of pawns in the centre often includes...
and the Scandinavian
Scandinavian Defense
The Scandinavian Defense is a chess opening characterized by the moves:The Center Counter Defense is one of the oldest recorded openings, first recorded as being played between Francesco di Castellvi and Narciso Vinyoles in Valencia in 1475 in what may be the first recorded game of modern chess,...
have made occasional appearances in World Chess Championship
World Chess Championship
The World Chess Championship is played to determine the World Champion in the board game chess. Men and women of any age are eligible to contest this title....
games. The Nimzowitsch is playable but rare, as is Owen's Defense
Owen's Defense
Owen's Defence is an uncommon chess opening defined by the moves:By playing 1...b6, Black prepares to fianchetto the queen's bishop where it will participate in the battle for the centre. The downside of this plan is that White can occupy the centre with pawns and gain a spatial advantage...
. The Borg Defense and the St. George Defense are oddities, although Tony Miles
Tony Miles
Anthony John Miles was an English chess Grandmaster.- Early achievements in chess :Miles was born in Edgbaston, a suburb of Birmingham...
once used St. George's Defense to defeat then World Champion Anatoly Karpov
Anatoly Karpov
Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov is a Russian chess grandmaster and former World Champion. He was the official world champion from 1975 to 1985 when he was defeated by Garry Kasparov. He played three matches against Kasparov for the title from 1986 to 1990, before becoming FIDE World Champion once...
.
The Sicilian and French Defenses lead to unbalanced positions that can offer exciting play with both sides having chances to win. The Caro-Kann Defense is solid as Black intends to use his c-pawn to support his center (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5). Alekhine's, the Pirc and the Modern are hypermodern
Hypermodernism (chess)
Hypermodernism is a school of chess that emerged after World War I. It featured challenges on the chess ideologies presented by central European masters, such as on Wilhelm Steinitz’ approach to the centre. It also challenged in particular the dogmatic rules set down by Siegbert Tarrasch...
openings in which Black tempts White to build a large center with the goal of attacking it with pieces.
List
- 1.e4 a5 Corn Stalk Defence
- 1.e4 a6 St. George Defence
- 1.e4 Na6 Lemming Defense
- 1.e4 b5
- 1.e4 b6 Owen's Defence
- 1.e4 c5 Sicilian DefenceSicilian DefenceThe Sicilian Defence is a chess opening that begins with the moves:The Sicilian is the most popular and best-scoring response to White's first move 1.e4...
- 1.e4 c6 Caro-Kann DefenceCaro-Kann DefenceThe Caro-Kann Defence is a chess opening —a common defense against the King's Pawn Opening characterised by the moves:The usual continuation isfollowed by 3.Nc3 , 3.Nd2 , 3.exd5 , or 3.e5 . The classical variation has gained much popularity...
- 1.e4 Nc6 Nimzowitsch DefenceNimzowitsch DefenceThe Nimzowitsch Defence is a somewhat unusual chess opening, in which Black moves 1... Nc6 in reply to White's 1.e4. It is an example of a hypermodern opening where Black invites White to occupy the centre of the board at an early stage with pawns...
- 1.e4 d5 Scandinavian Defence
- 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f5 Balogh Defence
- 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6 Czech Defence
- 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 Pirc DefencePirc DefenceThe Pirc Defence |grandmasters]]), sometimes known as the Ufimtsev Defence or Yugoslav Defence, is a chess opening characterised by Black responding to 1.e4 with 1...d6 and 2...Nf6, followed by ...g6 and ...Bg7, while allowing White to establish an impressive-looking centre with pawns on d4 and e4...
- 1.e4 e6 French DefenceFrench DefenceThe French Defence is a chess opening. It is characterised by the moves:The French has a reputation for solidity and resilience, though it can result in a somewhat cramped game for Black in the early stages...
- 1.e4 e6 2.d4 c5 Franco-Benoni Defense
- 1.e4 f5 Fred Defence
- 1.e4 f6 Barnes Defence
- 1.e4 Nf6 Alekhine's DefenceAlekhine's DefenceAlekhine's Defence is a hypermodern chess opening that begins with the moves:Black tempts White's pawns forward to form a broad pawn centre, with plans to undermine and attack the White structure later in the spirit of hypermodern defence. White's imposing mass of pawns in the centre often includes...
- 1.e4 g5 Borg Opening
- 1.e4 g6 Modern Defence
- 1.e4 h5 Goldsmith Defence
- 1.e4 h6 Carr Defense
- 1.e4 Nh6 Adams Defence
See also
- Open Game (1.e4 e5)
- Closed GameClosed GameA Closed Game, also called a Double Queen Pawn Opening, is a chess opening that begins with the moves:The move 1.d4 offers the same benefits to development and center control as does 1.e4, but unlike with the King Pawn openings where the e4 pawn is undefended after the first move, the d4 pawn is...
(1.d4 d5) - Semi-Closed GameSemi-Closed GameA Semi-Closed Game is a chess opening in which White opens with the queen's pawn 1.d4 but Black does not make the symmetrical reply 1...d5...
(1.d4 other) - Flank openingFlank openingA flank opening is a chess opening played by White and typified by play on one or both flanks ....
(1.c4, 1.Nf3, 1.f4, and others) - Irregular chess opening