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 Defen ...

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 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 Philosophy ...

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 1886 matc ...

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 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 * 1.e4 a6 St. George Defence * 1.e4 Na6 Lemming Defense * 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. 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 be ...

* 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 Scandinavian ...

* 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 Slovenian ...

* 1.e4 e6 French Defense * 1.e4 f5 Fred Defense * 1.e4 f6

Barnes Defence 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 twent ...

* 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 at ...

* 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