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Chess Opening Theory/1. h3

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Clemenz Opening
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 white pawn3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 black king2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. h3
ECO code: A00
Parent: Starting position

1. h3 · Clemenz Opening

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This opening move achieves nothing in terms of development or control of the center. However, this can actually be used as an effective waiting move, though 1. Nf3 is clearly better. Also, if White knows a lot of theory for both sides, this can be useful. 1. h3 also blocks a possible …Bg4 by Black. This may be quite a playable opening despite being inferior to many other openings (like 1. e4, 1. d4, etc). Because it is inferior, and most players want to exploit their first move advantage, however small it may be, as White, this is rarely played. Transpositions are possible, albeit not usual. Black can now exploit the fact that White has wasted time by playing in the centre, or by gaining a slight lead in development.

Black's responses

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  • 1... e5 is a solid, sensible move, which places pressure on d4 and f4. Now the strange 2. a3?! is the Global Variation, and if 2... d5 is played after that, it transposes to the creepy-crawly formation of the Anderssen Opening (1. a3). However, the best follow-up for White after 1... e5 is 2. c4, transposing into the King's English Variation of the English Opening. 2. d4 can be tried too, transposing into a "reversed" Scandinavian Defense, also playable.
  • 1... d5 is another fine move, with similar ideas to the previous one. This is best followed by 2. d4, 2. f4, or 2. c4, all moves that give White a portion of the centre. 2. b4 is unusual but interesting. Another interesting (though very likely inferior) option is 2. g4 transposing to the Killer Grob Attack.
  • 1... f5 is not recommended, as White can play 2. d4, transposing into the Korchnoi Attack of the Dutch Defense (another way to try to exploit kingside weaknesses created by Black, but Black has enough resources to withstand it after 3. g4 [the original plan after h3, especially after 3... d5. Black gets at least their fair share of the chances, so White has to exploit the weaknesses later on in the game]). Nevertheless, it is playable as long as Black is careful.
  • 1... c5 is an unexplored option. It would lead to uncharted territory in the Sicilian Defense after 2. e4.
  • 1... Nf6 is a good response. If White plays 2. d4 or 2. c4, the game could take upon a character typical of the King's Indian Defense.
  • 1... Nc6 is an interesting option, simply developing a piece. This is probably playable as well.

Statistics

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No stats as 1. h3 occurs rarely among serious chess players.

All possible Black's moves

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Quick
Navigation
Na6
a6
a5

b6
b5
Nc6
c6
c5

d6
d5

e6
e5
Nf6
f6
f5

g6
g5
Nh6
h6
h5

References

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  • Eric Schiller (2002). Unorthodox Chess Openings (Second Edition ed.). Cardoza. ISBN 1-58042-072-9. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)

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