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 te ...

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 French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

and the Caro–Kann are also very popular. The Pirc and the Modern are also commonly seen, while the

Alekhine Alexander Aleksandrovich Alekhine, ''Aleksándr Aleksándrovich Alékhin''; (March 24, 1946) was a Russian and French chess player and the fourth World Chess Champion, a title he held for two reigns. By the age of 22, Alekhine was already a ...

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 1886 matc ...

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. e4 b6 By playing 1...b6, Black prepares to fianchetto the where it will participate in the battle for the . ...

. The Borg Defense and the

St. George Defense The St. George Defence (also known as the Baker's Defence, Birmingham Defence, or Basman Counterattack) is an unorthodox chess opening for Black. The opening begins with the moves: : 1. e4 a6 The St. George Defence is given '' ECO'' code B00 ...

are oddities, although Tony Miles 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 Che ...

. 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 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 a6

St. George Defence The St. George Defence (also known as the Baker's Defence, Birmingham Defence, or Basman Counterattack) is an unorthodox chess opening for Black. The opening begins with the moves: : 1. e4 a6 The St. George Defence is given '' ECO'' code B00 ...

* 1.e4 Na6

Lemming Defense The King's Pawn Game is any chess opening starting with the move: :1. b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4, 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 t ...

* 1.e4 b6 Owen's Defence * 1.e4 c5

Sicilian Defense The Sicilian Defence is a chess opening that begins with the following moves: :1. b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4, e4 b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...c5, c5 The Sicilian is the most popular and best-scoring response to White's first move 1.e4. Ope ...

* 1.e4 c6 Caro-Kann Defense * 1.e4 Nc6 Nimzowitch Defense * 1.e4 d5

Scandinavian Defense The Scandinavian Defense (or Center Counter Defense, or Center Counter Game) is a chess opening characterized by the moves: :1. e4 d5 This opening is classified under code B01 in the '' Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings'' (). The Scandinavia ...

* 1.e4 d6 2.d4 f5 Balogh Defense * 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6

Czech 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 Slovenian ...

* 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 Pirc Defense * 1.e4 e6 French Defense * 1.e4 f5 Fred Defense * 1.e4 f6 Barnes Defence * 1.e4 Nf6 Alehkine's Defense * 1.e4 g5 Borg Opening * 1.e4 g6

Modern Defense The Modern Defense (also known as the Robatsch Defence after Karl Robatsch) is a hypermodern chess opening in which Black allows White to occupy the with pawns on d4 and e4, then proceeds to attack and undermine this "ideal" center without att ...

* 1.e4 h5

Goldsmith 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 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 ed ...

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

Popular defenses

List

See also

References