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Odd Opening, but Powerful!

Odd Opening, but Powerful!

Only Chess

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1. e4 a6

Not a move you'll see used often in chess...although if you look at my games you'll see it used all too often...

This opening's called the St. George's Defence which is a close relation of the French Defence.

The objective behind the opening is for Black to put the bishops on b7 and c5 to get strong diagonals which attack the center and white kingside.

All White needs to do is to take advantage of the lack of development early on in the Black kingside.

But why doesn't White beat me quickly in this opening...or at all?

Mostly because they're confused by the opening as it's not something they're used to responding to...

I offer my two variations which I dub the Yokaze and Tarrasch variations respectively...^__^

1. e4 a6 2. d4 e6 3. Nd2 d5 4. Ngf3 Nf6
1. e4 a5 2. d4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. Nc3 cxd4

Questions, comments?

1 edit
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I always thought St. George's Defence went a6 b5 ?

1. e4 a6 2. d4 e6 3. Nd2 d5 4. Ngf3 Nf6
French



1. e4 a5 2. d4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. Nc3 cxd4
Sicilian

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For a time i played a6 b5 (a3 b4), its quite a solid opening, you are right about people who dont take it seriously, they often fall victim to it :-)

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Originally posted by yamiyokaze
1. e4 a6 2. d4 e6 3. Nd2 d5 4. Ngf3 Nf6
1. e4 a5 2. d4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. Nc3 cxd4
Questions, comments?
Neither line is a St. George Defense.

The purest St. George position is like this:
1. e4 a6 2. d4 b5 3. Nf3 Bb7 4. Bd3 e6 5. O-O c5 6. c3 Nf6

It is a common misconception that any irregular defense beginning with 1. e4 a6 is a St. George, but that's not true.

Alternate move orders are possible, and ...e6, ...c5, ...Nf6 are important moves in the St. George; but the real defining moves of the Defense are ...a6, ...b5, and ...Bb7. Both the lines you give neglect two essential St. George moves (...b5 and ...Bb7). The second line neglects all three, unless you meant 1...a6 instead of 1...a5.

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what is it called when WHITE opens with a3? Apart from "irregular opening," that is. :-) I actually drew with black against that recently.

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Originally posted by paultopia
what is it called when WHITE opens with a3?
Anderssen's opening? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A00)

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hi i am new to this game. is it possible to move two diffrent pieces at a time. they are calling it

6b-0-0 move


can any one explain

thanx in advance

pritu

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Originally posted by pritish
hi i am new to this game. is it possible to move two diffrent pieces at a time. they are calling it

6b-0-0 move


can any one explain

thanx in advance

pritu
Yes,it's called castling.0-0 is castling kingside,or castling short
0-0-0 is castling queenside,or castling long.

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Originally posted by yamiyokaze
[b]1. e4 a6

Not a move you'll see used often in chess...although if you look at my games you'll see it used all too often...

This opening's called the St. George's Defence which is a close relation of the French Defence.

The objective behind the opening is for Black to put the bishops on b7 and c5 to get strong diagonals which attack the ...[text shortened]... . Nd2 d5 4. Ngf3 Nf6[/i]
1. e4 a5 2. d4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. Nc3 cxd4

Questions, comments?[/b]
Good old Tony Miles, God rest his soul, beat Karpov with 1...a6!?

1.e4, a6
2.d4, b5
3.Nf3, Bb7
4.Bd3, Nf6
5.Qe2, e6
6.a4, c5
7.dxc, Bxc5
8.Nbd2, b4
9.e5, Nd5
10.Ne4, Be7
11.0-0, Nc6