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Chess Opening Theory/1. h3

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Clemenz opening
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/7P/PPPPPPP1/RNBQKBNR
Moves: 1. h3
ECO code: A00
Parent: Starting position

1. h3 · Clemenz opening

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This is an uncommon, passive opening move which achieves nothing in terms of development or control of the centre.

At best 1. h3 is a waiting move that forgoes White's first turn advantage, but otherwise is not a serious error. e.g. after 1...e5 2. e4 it is as if White is playing the Black side of the open game, where the addition of h3 controls g4 and prevents ...Bg4. Other "reversed" lines are possible: 2. c4 reaches a position from the English opening or "reversed Sicilian" (Michael Basman liked this approach, and to continue with an early g4);[1] 1...d5 2. d4 reaches a reversed closed game, etc.

However, White often plays 1. h3 with a more unorthodox idea in mind. 1...e5 2. a3? d4 reaches Michael Basman's[2] "creepy-crawly" opening.

1...h5 fails to punish White's lack of initiative, weakening Black's kingside. It resembles the Desprez opening for Black, with a possible idea of opening up the black rook. It is notable only insofar as the line 1. h3 h5 2. g4?? has attracted a name, the Spike Lee gambit.

History

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An early recorded game in this opening was played in 1857 between Charles Mead (1815―1876), the President of the American Chess Association, and Paul Morphy (1837―1884). Morphy, with the black pieces, trounced Mead.[3]

The opening is named for Hermann Clemenz (1846―1908), an Estonian chess master.[4] In modern times the opening is most associated with offbeat chess aficionado IM Michael Basman.

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References

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  1. ↑ Schiller, Eric (1998). Unorthodox Chess Openings. New York: Cardoza Publishing. pp. 94–6.
  2. ↑ Schiller, Eric (1998). Unorthodox Chess Openings. New York: Cardoza Publishing. p. 97.
  3. ↑ Mead v Morphy, 1857. Chessgames.com
  4. ↑ Hooper, David; Wyld, Kenneth (1984). The Oxford Companion to Chess. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 68.

See also

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v · t · e
Chess Opening Theory
1. e4 e5
Open games
2. Nf3
2...Nc6
3. Bb5
Spanish
3. Bc4
Italian
3. Nc3
Three knights
Other
2...Nf6
Russian
2...d6
Philidor
Other
2. f4
King's gambit
2...exf4
Accepted
Other
Declined
2. Nc3
Vienna
Other
1. e4 c5
Sicilian
2. Nf3
2...Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
2...Nc6 other
2...d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
2...d6 other
2...e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
2...e6 other
Others
Anti-Sicilians
1. e4 e6
French
1. e4 c6
Caro-Kann
1. e4 other
1. d4 d5
Closed games
2. c4
Queen's gambit
2. Nc3
2. other
1. d4 Nf6
Indian
2. c4 e6
2. c4 g6
2. c4 other
2. Nf3
2. other:
1. d4 f5
Dutch
1. d4 ...other:
1. Nf3
Zukertort
Flank
Unorthodox
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