St. George Defense

Give up the centre and strike from the wing

Offbeat

Black answers 1…a6 and follows with …b5 and …Bb7, giving up the centre for pressure from the wing. The idea is to step out of theory and drag the opponent from familiar patterns. Opening guides rate the defence as unreliable: with accurate play White gets an edge. But as a surprise weapon it works: hardly anyone prepares for it.

Interactive Opening Board

4…e6

♚

Black

♔

White

4…e6

Speed:

Moves

(8 plies • 4 moves)

4…e6Tabiya

1–4moves
#WhiteBlack
1.
2.
3.
4.

Defining move

1…a6 — the move that prepares …b5

A quiet move on the rim that prepares a flank strike

The a6 pawn covers b5 and prepares …b5 with a bishop on b7. White is free to take the centre, but the b7 bishop later bears down on e4. The cost is plain: Black spends a move on a rim pawn and develops no piece.

Tabiya

The main position: the b7 bishop against the e4 pawn

White has the centre and extra space; Black has the queenside in motion and a bishop on b7 that aims at e4. The b5 pawn loosens Black's camp slightly but shields the bishop. White wants to develop, castle and use the centre. Black waits for the moment of …Nf6 and …c5 to open the position.

White’s plan

Hold the centre with e4 and d4 and develop calmly.
Do not fear the b7 bishop: support e4 with a knight or push e5.
Castle and use the extra space.

Black’s plan

Develop the bishop to b7 and press on e4 and the centre.
Prepare …Nf6 and …c5 to open the game.
Keep the queenside pawns defended so they do not become targets.

History

The defence became famous when Tony Miles beat World Champion Anatoly Karpov with it at the 1980 European Team Championship in Skara. Michael Basman did much of the theoretical work and wrote a book on it.

Games in the Atlas

No games in the Atlas yet