what is the best response to whites h4 opening???
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Who would open with h4? That's silly
Jan 19, 2016
0
#3
One online database shows these as the most favored responses to the rook pawn openings:
1. h4
1...e5 {1st most popular.}
1...d5 {2nd most popular.}
1. a4
1...e5 {1st most popular.}
1...d5 {2nd most popular.}
There is an obvious pattern here, which I believe is based on two philosophies for Black, which in descending order of popularity are:
(1) Ignore the move entirely and pretend you're playing White, whereupon your most favored response is copied from White's ordinarily most favored 1st move (P-K4)... or whereupon your 2nd most favored response is copied from White's ordinarily 2nd most favored 1st move (P-Q4).
(2) Prepare for the usual patzer follow-up of R-R3 by immediately opening a bishop line aimed at R3.
Either philosophy works fine.
Apr 12, 2017
0
#4
I play regularly against my neighbor who almost always opens h4 or a4 as white. My learned response has besome d4 or e4 (respectively) to defend against his second move of pushing rook. He likes doing different things and a loose rook is annoying. This response has been pretty effective in keeping him in check and continuing to develop my knights and bishops.
Apr 12, 2017
0
#5
Anything. Everything.
Seriously, 1.h4 is pretty much a white flag. As long as you don't respond with some crap like 1... h6 your in really good shape
Seriously, 1.h4 is pretty much a white flag. As long as you don't respond with some crap like 1... h6 your in really good shape
Apr 12, 2017
0
#6
Using common sense sounds like a good response.
May I summon GodsPawn so he attacks us with his copy paste scripts?
Apr 13, 2017
0
#7
Haha ... I won here one game starting with 1. h4 d5 2. d4 and one game starting with 1. h4 e5 2. e4. 
So, basically, U play reversed openings with h4 as a crazy addition.
Apr 13, 2017
0
#8
1. h4 is a fad opening whose only advantage is it leads to slightly unusual opening patterns the user is more familiar with than his opponents.
But just like the "Crab Opening that was briefly popular in the '70's (1 h4, 2 a4) it fails to standard opening principles: control the center, move out Ns, Bs, be careful of castling K-side since he's already pushed a pawn there.
Apr 13, 2017
0
#9
For someone seeking help with openings, I usually bring up Openings for Amateurs by Pete Tamburro (2014).
http://kenilworthian.blogspot.com/2014/05/review-of-pete-tamburros-openings-for.html
https://chessbookreviews.wordpress.com/tag/openings-for-amateurs/
I believe that it is possible to see a fair portion of the beginning of Tamburro's book by going to the Mongoose Press site.
https://www.mongoosepress.com/excerpts/OpeningsForAmateurs%20sample.pdf
Perhaps PerpetuallyPatzer would also want to look at Discovering Chess Openings by GM John Emms (2006).
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114655/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen91.pdf
"Each player should choose an opening that attracts him. Some players are looking for a gambit as White, others for Black gambits. Many players that are starting out (or have bad memories) want to avoid mainstream systems, others want dynamic openings, and others want calm positional pathways. It’s all about personal taste and personal need.
For example, if you feel you’re poor at tactics you can choose a quiet positional opening (trying to hide from your weakness and just play chess), or seek more dynamic openings that engender lots of tactics and sacrifices (this might lead to more losses but, over time, will improve your tactical skills and make you stronger)." - IM Jeremy Silman (January 28, 2016)
https://www.chess.com/article/view/picking-the-correct-opening-repertoire
http://chess-teacher.com/best-chess-openings/
https://www.chess.com/blog/TigerLilov/build-your-opening-repertoire
https://www.chess.com/blog/CraiggoryC/how-to-build-an-opening-repertoire
https://www.chess.com/article/view/learning-an-opening-to-memorize-or-understand
https://www.chess.com/article/view/the-perfect-opening-for-the-lazy-student
https://www.chess.com/article/view/3-ways-to-learn-new-openings
https://www.chess.com/article/view/how-to-understand-openings
https://www.newinchess.com/Shop/Images/Pdfs/9035.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627110453/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/hansen169.pdf
https://www.newinchess.com/Shop/Images/Pdfs/9029.pdf
https://www.newinchess.com/Shop/Images/Pdfs/7277.pdf
https://web.archive.org/web/20140627040728/http://www.chesscafe.com/text/ebcafe06.pdf
What isssss the best response to the good ol' h4 opening???