Chess Openings - Semi-Open Defenses
When white begins with the King's Pawn Opening move (1. e4), he is usually looking to play a tactical, rather than positional, style of game. He also usually has a particular opening in mind. Perhaps he wishes to play aggressively with the King's Gambit, or more slowly with the Italian Game. Either way, when black responds symmetrically with 1... e5, he allows white to take the game in his preferred direction.
 |
|||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
|
|||||||||
But black does not have to respond symmetrically. By playing a move other than 1... e5, black takes the reins, and gets to call the shots (at least to some extent). These alternative moves are collectively known as the Semi-Open Defenses. The term Semi-Open is used to distinguish these openings from the Open Games (which occur when both players advance the King's Pawn two spaces on the first move).
We will look at six exciting alternative defenses to the King's Pawn Opening:
- The Scandinavian Defense
- The French Defense
- The Caro-Kann Defense
- The Sicilian Defense
- The Alekhine Defense
- The Modern / Pirc Defense
As a white e4 player, you must at least have some fundamental preparation to face all six of these defenses.
How Common are the Semi-Open Defenses?
Very Common at all Levels
Black plays some alternative to 1... e5 about 70% of the time. As you can see, the semi open defenses are very common - and usually preferred by black players!