Clemenz Opening
Encyclopedia
The Clemenz Opening is a chess opening
described in algebraic chess notation
as
It is named after Hermann Clemenz (1846–1908), an Estonia
n player. It is considered an irregular opening, so it is classified under the A00 code in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings
.
Like Anderssen's Opening
, 1.a3, 1.h3 is a time-wasting move, as it makes no claim on the central squares, nor does it aid development. It also leads to a slight weakening of the king's side, albeit not as severely as Grob's Attack
, 1.g4, or Barnes Opening
, 1.f3. Since there is no need for White to make such a time-wasting move on the first move, it is among the rarest of the 20 possible first moves. Nevertheless, Michael Basman
has experimented with 1.h3, usually following it up with 2.g4 (transposing to the Grob), or 2.a3 followed by a quick c4, a line which has been dubbed the "Creepy Crawly".
Black has a number of playable responses, the most common being 1...d5 and 1...e5, which stake out a claim for central space. Another response, 1...b6, intends to fianchetto
a bishop to pressure white's weakened pawns, and forestall a White kingside expansion with g4.
One of the weaker plausible responses by Black would be 1...f5, when White can play 2.d4, transposing to a sharp line against the Dutch Defense introduced by Korchnoi
. White's idea is to play 3.g4!? as a pawn sacrifice (2.g4!? is also possible), one possible continuation being 2.d4 Nf6 3.g4!? fxg4 4.hxg4 Nxg4 5.Qd3 Nf6?? (5...g6! is forced) 6.Rxh7! Rxh7 7.Qg6#.
Chess opening
A chess opening is the group of initial moves of a chess game. Recognized sequences of opening moves are referred to as openings as initiated by White or defenses, as created in reply by Black. There are many dozens of different openings, and hundreds of named variants. The Oxford Companion to...
described in algebraic chess notation
Algebraic chess notation
Algebraic notation is a method for recording and describing the moves in a game of chess. It is now standard among all chess organizations and most books, magazines, and newspapers...
as
- 1. h3
It is named after Hermann Clemenz (1846–1908), an Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n player. It is considered an irregular opening, so it is classified under the A00 code in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings
Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings
The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings is a classification system for the opening moves in a game of chess. It is presented as a five volume book collection describing chess openings...
.
Like Anderssen's Opening
Anderssen's Opening
Anderssen's Opening is a chess opening defined by the opening moveIt is named after unofficial World Chess Champion Adolf Anderssen, who played it three times in his 1858 match against Paul Morphy...
, 1.a3, 1.h3 is a time-wasting move, as it makes no claim on the central squares, nor does it aid development. It also leads to a slight weakening of the king's side, albeit not as severely as Grob's Attack
Grob's Attack
Grob's Attack is an unconventional chess opening where White immediately moves the king knight's pawn two squares ahead:-Discussion:The opening takes its name from Swiss International Master Henri Grob who analyzed it extensively and played hundreds of correspondence games with it...
, 1.g4, or Barnes Opening
Barnes Opening
Barnes Opening or Gedult's Opening is a chess opening where White opens withIt is considered an irregular opening, so it is classified under the A00 code in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings....
, 1.f3. Since there is no need for White to make such a time-wasting move on the first move, it is among the rarest of the 20 possible first moves. Nevertheless, Michael Basman
Michael Basman
Michael John Basman is an English chess player, chess author and International Master. He was awarded the International Master title in 1980...
has experimented with 1.h3, usually following it up with 2.g4 (transposing to the Grob), or 2.a3 followed by a quick c4, a line which has been dubbed the "Creepy Crawly".
Black has a number of playable responses, the most common being 1...d5 and 1...e5, which stake out a claim for central space. Another response, 1...b6, intends to fianchetto
Fianchetto
In chess the fianchetto is a pattern of development wherein a bishop is developed to the second rank of the adjacent knight file, the knight pawn having been moved one or two squares forward....
a bishop to pressure white's weakened pawns, and forestall a White kingside expansion with g4.
One of the weaker plausible responses by Black would be 1...f5, when White can play 2.d4, transposing to a sharp line against the Dutch Defense introduced by Korchnoi
Viktor Korchnoi
Viktor Lvovich Korchnoi ; pronounced in the original Russian as "karch NOY"; Ви́ктор Льво́вич Корчно́й, born March 23, 1931 is a professional chess player, author and currently the oldest active grandmaster on the tournament circuit...
. White's idea is to play 3.g4!? as a pawn sacrifice (2.g4!? is also possible), one possible continuation being 2.d4 Nf6 3.g4!? fxg4 4.hxg4 Nxg4 5.Qd3 Nf6?? (5...g6! is forced) 6.Rxh7! Rxh7 7.Qg6#.