A Semi-Open Game is a

chess opening A chess opening or simply an opening is the initial stage of a chess game. It usually consists of established theory; the other phases are the middlegame and the endgame. Many opening sequences have standard names such as the "Sicilian Defens ...

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, Asymmetrical King Pawn, or Half-Open Games (or Openings), and are the complement of the

Open Game An Open Game (or Double King's Pawn Opening) is a chess opening that begins with the following moves: :1. e4 e5 White has moved the king's pawn two squares and Black has replied in kind. The result is an Open Game. Other responses to 1.e4 are t ...

s or Double King Pawn Games which begin 1.e4 e5.

Popular defenses

The most popular Black defense to 1.e4 is the Sicilian, but the French and the Caro–Kann are also very popular. The Pirc and the

Modern Modern may refer to: History * Modern history ** Early Modern period ** Late Modern period *** 18th century *** 19th century *** 20th century ** Contemporary history * Moderns, a faction of Freemasonry that existed in the 18th century Phil ...

are also commonly seen, while the Alekhine and the Scandinavian have made occasional appearances in

World Chess Championship The World Chess Championship is played to determine the world champion in chess. The current world champion is Magnus Carlsen of Norway, who has held the title since 2013. The first event recognized as a world championship was the World Chess ...

games. The Nimzowitsch is playable but rare, as is

Owen's Defense Owen's Defence (also known as the Queen's Fianchetto Defence or Greek Defence) is an uncommon chess opening defined by the moves: :1. b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4, e4 b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...b6, b6 By playing 1...b6, Black prepares to f ...

. The

Borg Defense The King's Pawn Game is any chess opening starting with the move: :1. e4 It is the most popular opening move in chess, followed by the Queen's Pawn Game. Details about the move and the game plan White opens with the most popular of the twen ...

and the St. George Defense are oddities, although

Tony Miles Anthony John Miles (23 April 1955 – 12 November 2001) was an English chess player and the first Englishman to earn the Grandmaster title. Early and personal life Miles was an only child, born 23 April 1955 in Edgbaston, a suburb of Birming ...

once used St. George's Defense to defeat then World Champion

Anatoly Karpov Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov ( rus, links=no, Анато́лий Евге́ньевич Ка́рпов, p=ɐnɐˈtolʲɪj jɪvˈɡʲenʲjɪvʲɪtɕ ˈkarpəf; born May 23, 1951) is a Russian and former Soviet chess grandmaster, former World Ches ...

. 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.

List

* 1.e4 a5 Corn Stalk Defense * 1.e4 a6 St. George Defence * 1.e4 Na6 Lemming Defense * 1.e4 b6

Owen's Defence Owen's Defence (also known as the Queen's Fianchetto Defence or Greek Defence) is an uncommon chess opening defined by the moves: :1. e4 b6 By playing 1...b6, Black prepares to fianchetto the where it will participate in the battle for the . ...

* 1.e4 c5

Sicilian Defense The Sicilian Defence is a chess opening that begins with the following moves: :1. e4 c5 The Sicilian is the most popular and best-scoring response to White's first move 1.e4. Opening 1.d4 is a statistically more successful opening for White b ...

* 1.e4 c6 Caro-Kann Defense * 1.e4 Nc6 Nimzowitch Defense * 1.e4 d5 Scandinavian Defense * 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f5

Balogh Defense The Balogh Defense (also known as the Balogh Counter Gambit) is an unusual chess opening beginning with the moves: :1. e4 d6 :2. d4 f5 It may also arise by transposition from the Staunton Gambit against the Dutch Defense, 1.d4 f5 2.e4!?, if ...

* 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6 Czech Defense * 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6

Pirc Defense The Pirc Defence (pronounced ) is a chess opening characterised by the response of Black to 1.e4 with 1...d6 and 2...Nf6, followed by ...g6 and ...Bg7, while allowing White to establish a with pawns on d4 and e4. It is named after the Slovenia ...

* 1.e4 e6

French Defense The French Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves: :1. e4 e6 This is most commonly followed by 2.d4 d5, with Black intending ...c5 soon after, attacking White's and gaining on the . The French has a reputation for solidity ...

* 1.e4 f5

Fred Defense The King's Pawn Game is any chess opening starting with the move: :1. e4 It is the most popular opening move in chess, followed by the Queen's Pawn Game. Details about the move and the game plan White opens with the most popular of the twenty ...

* 1.e4 f6 Barnes Defence * 1.e4 Nf6 Alehkine's Defense * 1.e4 g5 Borg Opening * 1.e4 g6 Modern Defense * 1.e4 h5 Goldsmith Defense * 1.e4 h6 Carr Defense * 1.e4 Nh6 Adams Defense

References

* *{{cite book , last1=Hooper , first1=David , authorlink1=David Vincent Hooper , last2=Whyld , first2=Kenneth , authorlink2=Kenneth Whyld , year=1992 , title=

The Oxford Companion to Chess ''The Oxford Companion to Chess'' is a reference book on the game of chess written by David Vincent Hooper and Kenneth Whyld. The book is written in an encyclopedia format. The book belongs to the Oxford Companions series. Details The first e ...

, edition=second , publisher=Oxford University Press , isbn=0-19-280049-3 *Semi-Open Game Chess terminology

Popular defenses

List

See also

References