Semi-Closed Game

A Semi-Closed Game (or Semi-Closed Opening) is a chess opening in which White plays 1.d4 but Black does not make the symmetrical reply 1...d5. (The openings starting 1.d4 d5 are the Closed Games.)

By far the most important category of the semi-closed openings is the Indian Defence beginning 1.d4 Nf6. It leads to a variety of Indian openings, also known as Indian systems, such as the Nimzo-Indian Defence (2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4). It is also common to transpose to the Queen's Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4) or other lines with 1.d4 d5.

Alternatives to 1...Nf6

a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h Position after 1...e6 a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h Dutch Defense

The third most common response to 1.d4 (after 1...Nf6 and 1...d5) is 1...e6. 1...e6 rarely has independent significance, usually transposing to another opening, such as the French Defense after 2.e4 d5 or the Queen's Gambit Declined after 2.c4 d5, or the Bogo-Indian Defence after 2...Bb4+ 3.Bd2 a5 4.Nf3 Nf6).

Another important response to 1.d4 is the Dutch Defense (1...f5). The Dutch, an aggressive defense adopted for a time by World Champions Alexander Alekhine and Mikhail Botvinnik, and played by both Botvinnik and challenger David Bronstein in their 1951 world championship match, is still played occasionally at the top level by Nigel Short and others. 1...e6 is sometimes used by players wishing to play the Dutch Defense (1.d4 f5) without allowing White the option of 2.e4!?, the Staunton Gambit.

There is the Benoni Defense (1...c5), but this is now more often reached via 1...Nf6 and then 2...c5 or 3...c5. 1...d6 is also reasonable, and might transpose to the King's Indian Defense (e.g. after 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d6), the Old Indian Defense (e.g. after 2.Nf3 Nbd7 3.c4 e5 4.Nc3 Be7), the Pirc Defense (e.g. 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6), or the Philidor Defense (e.g. 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 or 3...Nbd7 4.Nf3 e5). The Wade Defense, an offbeat but playable line, arises after 1...d6 2.Nf3 Bg4. 1...d6 2.c4 e5 reaches the English Rat Defense; 3.dxe5?! dxe5 4.Qxd8+ Kxd8 leads to no advantage for White.

The remaining semi-closed openings are uncommon. The Polish Defense (1...b5) has never been very popular but has been tried by Spassky, Ljubojević, and Csom, among others. The Bogoljubov–Mikenas Defense (1...Nc6) is an uncommon opening that frequently transposes to the Nimzowitsch Defense after 1.d4 Nc6 2.e4 or the Chigorin Defense after 2.c4 d5, although it can lead to unique lines, for example after 1.d4 Nc6 2.d5 or 2.c4 e5. The Englund Gambit is a rare and dubious sacrifice.

List

• 1.d4 b5 (Polish Defense)
• 1.d4 c5 (Benoni Defense)
• 1.d4 Nc6 (Bogoljubov–Mikenas Defense)
• 1.d4 b6 (English Defense)
• 1.d4 d6 (Wade Defense when followed by 2.Nf3 Bg4, may also transpose to the Pirc Defence)
• 1.d4 e5 (Englund Gambit)
• 1.d4 e6 (Franco-Indian Defense)
• 1.d4 Nf6 (Indian systems, an enormous category, treated separately)
• 1.d4 f5 (Dutch Defense)

See also

• Open Game (1.e4 e5)
• Semi-Open Game (1.e4 other)
• Closed Game (1.d4 d5)
• Flank opening (1.c4, 1.Nf3, 1.f4, and others)
• Irregular chess opening

References

Bibliography

• de Firmian, Nick (1999). Modern Chess Openings: MCO-14. Random House Puzzles & Games. ISBN 0-8129-3084-3. Search this book on
• Hooper, David; Whyld, Kenneth (1996). The Oxford Companion to Chess (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280049-3. Search this book on

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