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Closed Game
A Closed Game (or Double Queen's Pawn Opening) is a chess opening that begins with the moves: :1. d4 d5 The move 1.d4 offers the same benefits to and as does 1.e4, but unlike with the king's pawn openings where the e4-pawn is undefended after the first move, the d4-pawn is protected by White's queen. This slight difference has a tremendous effect on the opening. For instance, whereas the King's Gambit is rarely played today at the highest levels of chess, the Queen's Gambit remains popular at all levels of play. Also, compared with the king's pawn openings, transpositions between variations are more common and important in the closed games. Specific openings The Richter–Veresov Attack, Colle System, Stonewall Attack, Torre Attack, London System, and Blackmar–Diemer Gambit are classified as Queen's Pawn Games because White plays d4 but not c4. The Richter–Veresov is rarely played at the top levels of chess. The Colle and London are both ', rather than specific openin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Queen's Pawn Game
The Queen's Pawn Game is any chess opening starting with the move: : 1. d4 It is the second-most popular opening move after 1.e4 (King's Pawn Game). Terminology The term "Queen's Pawn Game" is usually used to describe openings beginning with 1.d4 where White does not play the Queen's Gambit. The most common Queen's Pawn Game openings are: * The London System, 2.Bf4 or 2.Nf3 and 3.Bf4 * The Trompowsky Attack, 1...Nf6 2.Bg5 and the Pseudo-Trompowsky 1...d5 2.Bg5 * The Torre Attack, 2.Nf3 and 3.Bg5 * The Stonewall Attack, 2.e3 * The Colle System, 2.Nf3 and 3.e3 * The King's Fianchetto Opening, 2.Nf3 and 3.g3 * The Barry Attack, 1...Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 * The Richter–Veresov Attack, 1...d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 or 1...Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bg5 * The Blackmar–Diemer Gambit, 1...d5 2.e4, and the Hübsch Gambit 1...Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e4 In the ''Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings'' (''ECO''), Closed Games (1.d4 d5) are classified under codes D00–D69. Openings where Black do ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Slav Defense
The Slav Defense is a chess opening that begins with the moves: :1. d4 d5 :2. c4 c6 The Slav is one of the primary defenses to the Queen's Gambit. Although it was analyzed as early as 1590, it was not until the 1920s that it started to be explored extensively, although Steinitz essayed it in the first official World Chess Championship of 1886. Many masters of Slavic descent helped develop the theory of this opening, including Alapin, Alekhine, Bogoljubov, and Vidmar. The Slav received an exhaustive test during the two Alekhine–Euwe World Championship matches in 1935 and 1937. Played by 11 of the first 13 world champions, this defense was particularly favored by Euwe, Botvinnik, and Smyslov. More recently the Slav has been adopted by Anand, Ivanchuk, Lautier, Short, and other top grandmasters, including use in six of the eight games that Vladimir Kramnik played as Black in the 2006 World Championship (in the other two, he played the related Semi-Slav Def ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flank Opening
A flank opening is a chess opening played by White and typified by play on one or both (the portion of the chessboard outside the central d- and e-). White often plays in hypermodern style, attacking the from the flanks with rather than occupying it with pawns. Some of these openings are played often, although more often by advanced players than beginners, and 1.Nf3 and 1.c4 trail only 1.e4 and 1.d4 in popularity as opening moves. Classification * 1. c4 – English Opening * 1. Nf3 – Zukertort Opening– characteristically followed by fianchettoing one or both bishops, and without an early d4, can lead to the Réti Opening * 1. f4 – Bird's Opening * 1. b3 – Larsen's Opening * 1. g3 – King's Fianchetto Opening, also known as Benko's Opening In addition, some flank openings that are considered irregular: *1. a3 – Anderssen's Opening *1. a4 – Ware Opening *1. b4 – Sokolsky Opening, also known as the Polish Opening or the Orangutan Opening *1. c3 – Sarag ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Semi-Closed Game
A Semi-Closed Game (or Semi-Closed Opening) is a chess opening in which White plays 1.d4 but Black does not make the symmetrical reply 1...d5.Hooper & Whyld (1996), p. 365. ''semi-close game''. (The openings starting 1.d4 d5 are the Closed Games.) Important openings By far the most important category of the semi-closed openings are the ''Indian systems'', which begin 1.d4 Nf6. As these defenses have much in common and have a great deal more theory than all the remaining semi-closed openings put together, they are treated in a separate article; see Indian defense for details. The third most common response to 1.d4 (after 1...Nf6 and 1...d5) is 1...e6. 1...e6 rarely has independent significance, usually transposing to another opening, e.g. the Dutch Defense (2.c4 f5 or 2.Nf3 f5), French Defense (2.e4 d5), or Queen's Gambit Declined (2.c4 d5). Another possibility is 2.c4. 2...Bb4+ is the Keres Defense (also known as the Kangaroo Defense), which is fully playable, but also little ind ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Semi-Open Game
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. Hooper & Whyld (1996), p. 365. ''semi-open game''. 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 Games 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 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 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Open Game
An Open Game (or Double King's Pawn Opening) is a generic term for a family of chess openings beginning with the moves: :1. b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4, e4 b:Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5, 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 termed Semi-Open Games or Single King's Pawn Games. When written in lowercase, the term "open game" refers to a chess position where , and are open, and tending to more Chess tactic, tactical gameplay. It is possible that an Open Game may lead to a . Analysis White opens by playing 1.e4, which is the most popular opening move and has many strengths – it immediately stakes a claim in the , and frees two pieces (the queen (chess), queen and king's bishop (chess), bishop) for action. The oldest openings in chess follow 1.e4. Bobby Fischer wrote that 1.e4 is "Best by test." On the negative side, 1.e4 places a pawn (chess), pawn on an undefended square and w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Marshall Defense
The Marshall Defense is a chess opening that begins with the moves: :1. d4 d5 :2. c4 Nf6?! The Marshall Defense is a fairly dubious variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined. It was played by Frank Marshall in the 1920s, but he gave it up after losing with it to Alekhine at Baden-Baden in 1925. It is no longer used by experienced players . White may choose to ignore Black's provocative second move with 3.Nc3, which will usually transpose into normal lines of the Queen's Gambit Declined (after 3...e6), the Slav Defence (after 3...c6), the Queen's Gambit Accepted (after 3...dxc4) or the Grünfeld Defence (after 3...g6). 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.e4 A common continuation, though White may be playing e4 too early. If Black deviates with 3...Qxd5, 4.Nc3 Qa5 5.Bd2 is strong, e.g. 5...Qb6 6.Nf3 Qxb2?? 7.Rb1 Qa3 8.Nb5, winning . After Black retreats the knight with 4...Nf6, White can continue 5.e5 attacking the knight, or they can get a clear advantage with 5.f3, or a small advantage with ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Albin Countergambit
The Albin Countergambit is a chess opening that begins with the moves: :1. d4 d5 :2. c4 e5 and the usual continuation is: :3. dxe5 d4 The opening is a gambit and an uncommon response to the Queen's Gambit. In exchange for the sacrificed pawn, Black has a central wedge at d4 and gets some chances for an attack. Often White will try to return the pawn at an opportune moment to gain a advantage. In the ''Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings'' the Albin Countergambit is assigned codes D08 and D09. History Although this opening was originally played by Cavallotti against Salvioli at the Milan tournament of 1881, it takes its name from Adolf Albin, who played it against Emanuel Lasker in New York 1893. Though it is not played frequently at the master level, Russian grandmaster Alexander Morozevich made some successful use of it in the 2000s. Main line The main line continues 4.Nf3 Nc6 (4...c5 allows 5.e3 because Black no longer has the bishop check) and now White's pri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Baltic Defense
The Baltic Defense (also known as the Grau Defense, or the Sahovic Defense) is a chess opening characterized by the moves: :1. d4 d5 :2. c4 Bf5!? The Baltic is an unusual variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined (QGD). In most defenses to the QGD, Black has difficulties developing their . This opening takes a radical approach to the problem by bringing out the queen bishop immediately, but exposes it to the latent threat of e2-e4, for example 3. cxd5 Qxd5? 4. Nc3 Qa5 5. Bd2 followed by 6. e4 hitting the bishop gives White a strong advantage. The Baltic has not found widespread acceptance among chess masters, but some world-class players have used it including grandmasters Paul Keres and Alexei Shirov. The '' ECO'' code for the Baltic Defense is D06. White responses White has several replies to this opening, including 3.Nf3, 3.cxd5, 3.Qb3, and 3.Nc3. Play might continue: 3.Nf3 e6 * 4.Qb3 Nc6 * 4.e3 Nf6 5.Qb3 Nc6 * 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Qb3 Nc6 * 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Qb3 Nc6 3.cxd5 :3.. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Symmetrical Defense
The Symmetrical Defense (or Austrian Defense) is a chess opening that begins with the moves: :1. d4 d5 :2. c4 c5 First described in print by Alessandro Salvio in 1604, the opening is often called the Austrian Defense because it was studied by Austrian chess players including Hans Haberditz (c. 1901–57), Hans Müller (1896–1971), and GM Ernst Grünfeld. The Symmetrical Defense is an uncommon variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined. It poses the purest test of Queen's Gambit theory—whether Black can equalize by simply copying White's moves. Most opening theoreticians believe that White should gain the advantage and at best Black is playing for a draw. Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura employed the unusual opening a few times in 2023 and 2024. With the opening, he drew former world champion Magnus Carlsen in the Champions Chess Tour 2023 finals and beat reining world champion Ding Liren in Norway Chess 2024. He employed a similar opening in the Candidates Tournament 2024, be ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chigorin Defense
The Chigorin Defense is a chess opening named for 19th-century Russian master Mikhail Chigorin. An uncommonly played defense to the Queen's Gambit, it begins with the following moves: :1. d4 d5 :2. c4 Nc6 The Chigorin Defense violates several classical principles: Black does not maintain the center pawn at d5, the c-pawn is blocked, and Black must be willing to trade a bishop for a knight. In return, Black gets quick and piece pressure on the . Although opening assessments change as improvements are found for each side, the Chigorin is generally considered for Black, and it is useful as a surprise weapon against the Queen's Gambit. Alexander Morozevich is perhaps the only modern grandmaster who regularly plays the Chigorin Defense; in the 1980s, Vasily Smyslov did employ the opening against Garry Kasparov Garry Kimovich Kasparov (born Garik Kimovich Weinstein on 13 April 1963) is a Russian Grandmaster (chess), chess grandmaster, former World Chess Champion (1985 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tarrasch Defense
The Tarrasch Defense is a chess opening characterized by the moves: :1. d4 d5 :2. c4 e6 :3. Nc3 c5 The Tarrasch is a variation of the Queen's Gambit Declined. Black's third move is an aggressive bid for central . After White plays cxd5 and dxc5, Black will be left with an isolated pawn on d5. Such a pawn may be weak, since it can no longer be defended by other pawns, but it grants Black a foothold in the , and Black's bishops will have unobstructed lines for development. The opening was advocated by the German player Siegbert Tarrasch, who contended that the increased Black enjoys is well worth the inherent weakness of the isolated center pawn. Although many other masters, after the teachings of Wilhelm Steinitz, rejected the Tarrasch Defense out of hand because of the pawn weakness, Tarrasch continued to play his opening while rejecting other variations of the Queen's Gambit, even to the point of putting question marks on routine moves in all variations except the Tarra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |