The Santa Claus Opening

What is the Santa Claus Attack?

 The Santa Claus Attack is an opening created by me to represent the christmas spirit!

 The Santa Claus Attack is played in the King Pawn Opening 1.e4.

The Santa Clause Attack is an unsound opening.

However, I feel it can be playable!

Maybe a very nice seasonal line!

The starting position of the Santa Claus Opening begins at move 2.

 King Pawn Opening/Santa Claus Opening

ECO  C20 1.e4 e5 2.b3

Outline for this article

- I will share ideas behind the moves.

- I will talk about the theory of this line which has been created with the help of the chess.com community.

 Today we will have fun!

Move 1.e4  - White occupies the center with a pawn.

The move e4 helps white activate the light square bishop and the queen.

If black is not careful white can proceed with the pawn push d4 to have 2 pawns in the center.

Move 1...e5 - Black occupies the center with a pawn.

Very Classical way of playing!

The move e5 helps black activate the dark square bishop and the queen.

The pawn move e4 takes control of the d4 square.

Black tries to discourage white from playing the move d4.

If white plays 2.d4, black will take the d4 pawn with the move 2...exd4.

Before I move on to move 2 in the Santa Claus Attack I would like to explain some of the other second move options played in this position.

I believe by explaining some of the other moves in this position it will further help us to understand the Santa Claus Attack better.

I will explain the 3 most popular moves in this position.

Move 2.Nf3 - This move is the most played move in this position!

The idea behind the move is to attack the e5 pawn.

Black played the move e5 in an effort to dissuade white from playing the pawn move 2.d4.

However, the e5 pawn is undefended.

The move Nf3 puts the question to black on what he plans to do.

Will black defend the e5 pawn? Will black do a counter attack instead of defend the e5 pawn?

Move 2.Nc3 - This move is the second most played move in this position!

The idea behind the move is to defend the e4 pawn.

Instead of attacking the e5 pawn right away!

White says I am going to wait and make sure all my pawns and pieces are protected!

I am going to defend my base points before I go on the offense!

Move 2.f4 - This move is the third most played move in this position!

The idea behind the move is white wants to play d4.

However, he realizes if he plays the pawn push 2.d4 black can simply take it.

The basic idea behind the move f4 is to offer up the f pawn for black to take it!

White is offering up the f4 in order to get the black pawn on e5 to move!

If black does take the pawn on f4 than white will later on proceed with the move d4

Since, I have provided you with some information on other popular moves hopefully now you can get a better insight on why we are playing the move 2.b3.

Move 2.b3  - The idea behind this move is to keep all of our options open!

We have not commited any of our knights.

We have not given up any pawns!

We have a short term plan of putting our dark bishop on b2.

Once the dark bishop gets to b2 it will be attacking the e5 pawn.

 

After the above moves the games usually are very unique.

This opening I believe can be a very fun opening.

I do not think you should play it the rest of your life lol.

Obviously you should have better more solid openings as white.

However, I do think this line can be a very nice seasonal line during the Christmas Holiday.

Or even if it is not Christmas you can try it out for fun.

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Theory Section:

The following theory has been gathered with the help of the chess.com community.

 

The Santa Claus Opening/Grinch Defense

1.e4 e5  2.b3 Nf6

The move 2...Nf6 is the signature move which represents the Grinch Defense!

It comes as no surpise why this line is named after the Grinch!

The Grinch tries to steal Christmas!

The move 2...Nf6 tries to steal the e4 pawn!

 

The Santa Claus Opening/Christmas Present Defense

1.e4 e5  2.b3 c6

The Santa Claus Opening/Caroling Counter Gambit

1.e4 e5  2.b3 f5

The move 2...f5 is the signature move which represents the Caroling Counter Gambit

It comes as no surpise why this line is named after Christmas Caroling!

Christmas Carolers sing to bring everyone together.

They try to bring joy and happiness to the world.

The move 2...f5 brings together a lot of center pawns!

The Santa Claus Opening/Caroling Counter Gambit Accepted

1.e4 e5  2.b3 f5  3.exf5

The Santa Claus Opening/Caroling Counter Gambit Declined

1.e4 e5  2.b3 f5  3.Bc4

 

The Santa Claus Opening/Caroling Counter Gambit Declined/Lights-Out Variation

1.e4 e5  2.b3 f5  3.Bc4 fxe4 4.Qh5+

The moves 3...fxe4 4.Qh5+ are the signature moves of the Lights- Out Variation.

The reason this is called the Lights-Out Variation is because black finds himself in a position which is losing.

Black 2 choices are being mated or end up with huge material loss beyond the point of recovery!

The move 4.Qh5+ carries a deadly threat of Qxe5# or Qxe5+ which wins the rook in the corner!

 

The Santa Claus Opening/Sleigh Defense

 

1.e4 e5  2.b3 Nc6

The move 2...Nc6 is the signature move which represents the Sleigh Defense!

It comes as no surpise why this line is named after Santa's Sleigh!

Santa's Sleigh is very solid and sturdy!

The move 2...Nc6 is a very solid move which defends the e5 pawn!

 

 

The Santa Claus Opening/Sleigh Defense/Reindeer Attack

1.e4 e5  2.b3 Nc6  3.Nf3

The move 3.Nf3 develops the knight and attacks the e5 pawn!

 

The Santa Claus Opening/Christmas Tree Defense

1.e4 e5  2.b3 Nc6  3.Bb2 Nf6  4.Nc3 Bb4

 

The move 3...Nf6 introduces a threat of winning the e4 pawn.

One way white can deal with this threat is by playing 4.Nc3 which defends the e4 pawn.

The Christmas Tree Defense seeks to play the move 4...Bb4 which attacks the knight on c3.

Black is threatening to take the knight on c3 and than take the e4 pawn with the black knight on f6.

It is no surprise why this is named the Christmas Tree Defense.

Christmas Tree's are a wonderful show of color, beauty, and creativity demonstrated by the owner of the tree.

Black's sneaky idea is a colorful tactic.

It symbolizes the tactical beauty of chess.

It demonstrates the creativity and splendor of the person playing the black side.

The Santa Claus Opening/Christmas Tree Defense/White Christmas Tree Variation

1.e4 e5  2.b3 Nc6  3.Bb2 Nf6  4.Nc3 Bb4  5.d3

The move 5.d3 protects the e4 pawn which is being threated after the sequence of moves.

The reason this line is called the White Christmas Tree Variation.

Is because funny enough white has placed all his pawns on light squares.

 

The Santa Claus Opening/Christmas Stocking-Counter Variation

1.e4 e5  2.b3 d5

The Santa Claus Opening/Christmas Tree Defense/ Christmas Tree Gambit

1.e4 e5  2.b3 Nc6  3.Bb2 Nf6  4.Nc3 Bb4  5.Nf3

The move 5.Nf3 is a very double edge gambit line which gives up the e4 pawn.

White gives up the e4 pawn in exchange for a speedy development/attack.

 

The Santa Claus Opening/ Elf Defense

1.e4 e5  2.b3 Nc6  3.Bb2 g6

The move 3...g6 by black seeks to challenge whites influence of the dark squares.

Black immediately sets up a plan to fianchetto which in turns opposes white's fianchetto.

 

The Santa Claus Opening/Bad Santa Defense

1.e4 e5  2.b3 b6

The move 2...b6 is an attempt by black to copy what white is doing!

The move b6 allows black the chance to fianchetto the light square bishop to b7.

It comes as no surpise why this line is called the Bad Santa Defense. Trying to copy what white is doing with bad intentions!

Can you believe that?

 

The Santa Claus Opening/Bad Santa Defense/Mirrors Variation

 1.e4 e5 2.b3 b6 3.Bb2 Bb7 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bc4 Bc5 7.O-O O-O 8.a3