Openings
- Chess Atlas Subsections
- VOL. I • Chess HistoryFrom Chaturanga to Neural Engines
- VOL. II • Classic ChessPieces, Notation & Rules
- VOL. III • Legendary PlayersPantheon of Chess Immortals
- VOL. IV • Great GamesInteractive game studies
- VOL. V • OpeningsOriginal CAISSORA Opening Articles
- VOL. VI • Tactics & StrategyForks, Pins & Board Geometry
Goldsmith Defense
A rook pawn two steps forward, and the rook has no idea why
- Offbeat
1…h5 is one of the rarest and weakest replies to 1.e4. The idea is to bring the rook out along the h-file to h6, but the h5 pawn weakens the kingside, ignores the centre and develops nothing. White gets a free hand in development. It is played as a joke or to confuse the opponent.
3.Nc3
Moves
(5 plies • 3 moves)- 1–3moves
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
Defining move
1…h5 — a pawn to the edge and a rook in reserve
The one move the opening exists for
The pawn on h5 frees h7, and the rook dreams of reaching h6. But the plan is easy to stop: after 2.d4 the c1 bishop eyes h6, and …Rh6 makes no sense. What remains is a pawn on h5 that has weakened the kingside and wasted time.
Tabiya
White is ahead, and the h5 pawn only gets in the way
After 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 White holds the centre and develops freely. The h5 pawn is superfluous: Black's kingside is weakened and the rook is still stuck in the corner. Black should develop calmly and wait for White to overreach. White should play without hurry and not let Black muddy the position.
White’s plan
- Take the centre with 2.d4 and stop the rook reaching h6.
- Develop quickly and castle.
- Use Black's weakened kingside while keeping White's own king safe.
Black’s plan
- Develop the pieces as in the Pirc: …Nf6, …d6, …g6.
- Do not count on a rook on h6: White usually prevents it with d4.
- Hold on until White overreaches, and play for a slip.
Games in the Atlas
No games in the Atlas yet