Talk:Semi-Open Game

As a matter of interest are the following referenced as Semi-Open Game in MCO-14? Prior to reading this article my understanding was these are not covered in semi-opening game, at least not from my recollection of the 'Semi-Open Game in Action' by Anatoly Karpov. ChessCreator (talk) 04:39, 26 February 2008 (UTC)
 * 1) 1.e4 f5 Fred Defense
 * 2) 1.e4 f6 Barnes Defense
 * 3) 1.e4 Nf6 Alekhine's Defense
 * 4) 1.e4 g5 Borg Defense
 * 5) 1.e4 g6 Modern Defense
 * 6) 1.e4 h5 Goldsmith Defense
 * 7) 1.e4 h6 Carr´s Defense
 * 8) 1.e4 Nh6 Adams Defense
 * Semi-Open Games are 1.e4 anything but e5, which includes all these lines. I think Semi-Open Game in Action is a great book, but it won't cover obscure and bad lines such as most of these, although I think that the Alekhine and the Modern might get a brief mention.  Karpov used mostly his own games as illustrations, and it isn't really a traditional chess opening book (and Karpov doesn't pretend it is), it's more a collection of his games with Kasparov than anything.  MCO is only slightly more likely to have any of these lines (again save for the Alekhine and the Modern) for reasons of limited space and probably even more limited interest.  (Primarily limited interest by the authors in writing about bad lines, but also limited interest by most of the readers as well.) In general standard opening works won't cover these.  Generally Eric Schiller is the go to guy for fringe openings.  We need good references for Goldsmith, Carr, and Adams.  Good refs may be available, although I am not familiar with these names. Quale (talk) 05:20, 26 February 2008 (UTC)

Both Alekhine's defence and the modern defence is considered sound. 217.210.21.42 (talk) 07:12, 15 August 2008 (UTC)

1. e4 b5
1.e4 b5 Larson Gambit is not in MCO-15 or the Oxford Companion. Someone tagged it for "cite needed". I think it should be removed, unless someone comes up with a source. Bubba73 (talk), 00:34, 6 January 2009 (UTC)


 * Never come across that name. Collecting names of openings happens to be one of my esoteric hobbies, and according to my records 1. e4 b5 is the Guest Gambit, but I'm afraid I can't remember where I got that from. A quick Google search reveals other names: Rostgaard Variation and Meijers Opening. 91.105.56.175 (talk) 23:44, 16 January 2009 (UTC)


 * OK, I'm going to remove it. Bubba73 (talk), 00:02, 17 January 2009 (UTC)