What Openings have Closed Centers?

Closed-Center Openings

Hello, dear chess.com forumers. This post is about openings with closed-centers. Now, I was curious regarding two things.

(1) What openings have the highest percentage of closed-center positions?

(2) What openings lead to closed-center positions wherein it is impossible to avoid the closed-center positions, unless the side aiming to avoid the closed-center position must reach an inferior position in order to avoid the closed-center position?

I shall name these categories Category A and Category B, respectively.

Before proceeding any farther, I’d like to clarify what I mean by a closed-center position.

Definition of Closed-Center Position, and My Preferred Playing Style

When I say “closed-center” position, I mean not a position in which the position in closed, but a position in which the center is closed. Thus, for such a position to arise, the pawns would have to be interlocked. It is important to distinguish a position in which the center is closed and a position in which the position is closed. In positions in which the position is closed (say, the Closed Sicilian) either side (usually) can open the position when he wishes. However, in closed-center positions, openings of the position will be much harder to achieve, due to the interconnectedness of the center. Therefore, play resorts to playing on the flanks, which brings me to my next point.

Around six months ago, I did an opening survey (for myself). I took the last 100 games I’d played, and looked at my winning percentage for each opening. I noticed something interesting.

My survey’s list was as follows:

Scandinavian Defense = 55%

1.e4 = 55%

Dutch Stonewall = 70%

I noticed that I performed dramatically better with the Dutch Stonewall than with other openings. I wondered why this was. I then thought about the fact that in the Dutch Stonewall, Black and White both pawn-storm each other on the respective sides. (I am talking about the early 1900s approach, which I use, and Botvinnik used as well (see I. Robonivik v. M. Botvinnik, 1927).)  I then realized how much I enjoyed pawn-storming, and how that kind dual pawn-storm is (usually, for there are some exceptions, such as the Yugoslav Attack) only available in closed-center positions.

So, it was not by coincidence that I performed best in the Stonewall. One of my biggest strengths is pawn-storming, and closed-center positions play to that strength of mine. Currently, I play the English Opening – and it probably won’t come as a surprise that the variation of the English that I score best with is the Botvinnik System. The Botvinnik System is a closed-center system involving White performing either a K-side or Q-side pawn-storm (though I opt for the former approach).

My Question to You, dear Forumers

So, I have some questions for you, dear forumers, and I would really, truly, appreciate it if you could please answer them. These questions were posed at the beginning of the post, but I will rewrite them here for your convenience:

(1) What openings have the highest percentage of closed-center positions? (Category A, does this opening have a high percentage?)

(2) What openings lead to closed-center positions wherein it is impossible to avoid the closed-center positions, unless the side aiming to avoid the closed-center position must reach an inferior position in order to avoid the closed-center position? (Category B)

Please list the openings you know that are closed-center openings, and please say whether they fall under Category A, B, or both.

Here are the closed-center openings I am aware of.

• Dutch Stonewall (Category A, B)
• French Defense (Category A)
• KID (Category B)
• Botvinnik System (Category A,B)

Conclusion:

Based on the answers I get, I will try to incorporate some openings into my own opening repetoire. The goal of an opening should be to bring out your strengths. One of my biggest strenghts is pawn-storming, so I wanted to exploit it by entering closed-center positions.

Thank you very much for reading this post, I really appreciate it.

Cant really say. there are lines in each of the openings to prevent a closed position. except maybe caro kann. i havent play against a dutch yet so i wouldnt know the lines.

Hmmm, thanks for commenting. So, I'm guessing Caro-Kann would fall under Category B (wherein it's disadvantageous to get a closed position)? Also, do you know any other openings that fall under Category A or B?

Thanks!

Only French Advanced opening has a closed centre, french exchange is more half open. So like 4km41 says, depends on the variation of the opening.

Category A: The Stonewall System often turns into a closed center in my experience, especially if Black advances with ...c5 followed by ...c4 against White's c3 instead of exchanging with ...cxd4.

You already named the opening that is the most often locked, in my opinion, and is locked to the greatest extent: the Botvinnik System. You might take a look at the Bird Opening, since it resembles a kingside English Opening, though I'm fairly unfamiliar with that opening so I can't say for sure.

Czech Benoni, King's Indian Defense.

@logis: Ok. But is French under category B (that is to say, if white avoids Advance variation, he is in an inferior position) or under no category at all?

@Sqod: Hmmm, thanks for the suggestion. I know you're unfamiliar with the Bird (as am I) but from your experience, are there any lines that have locked centers (besides Stonewall Attack)?

@tmkroll: Thanks for the suggestion. Is Czech Benoni Category A (Category A, does this opening have a high percentage?)  or Category B (Category B, wherein it is impossible to avoid the closed-center positions, unless the side aiming to avoid the closed-center position must reach an inferior position in order to avoid the closed-center position?) Also, does Czech Benoni involve same-side-as-king pawn storms (or just opposite pawn-storms in general)?

THANKS TO ALL!

Well, against french, white can play e4, e6 and then c4 and control the center.

Make the game more open, which is fun.

I'm not quite sure what you mean. White's best in the Czech Bononi is to completely close the center, but White isn't worse if s/he avoids the Benoni all together, it might end up transposing to a Terrasch Defense, some kind of irregular Queen Pawn opening or even a Sicilian. After 1. d4 nf6 for one thing White doesn't have to play c4. after 2. c4 c5 White doesn't have to play d5 but it's best. If White, on the other hand, wants to play into the Benoni but avoid the completely closed center of the Czech White can capture en passant after e5, but White might actually be a little worse then. Anyway Black has better play than in most openings. If you aim for the Czech Benoni in my experience you'll usually get it, but White is not doing playing some kind of inferior game if s/he move orders you into a different opening. You can't really force an opening unless you play something sharper.

The pawn storm thing depends how you play. White can play for f4 or b4. Black can play for f5 or b5. I always thought White shouldn't go f4 when Black has control of the e5 square but I remember a GM in a video said f4 right away "is possible." For a long time Black, on the other hand, played it as kind of a "system" which played only for f5, but there's really a lot of different ways to play it. Andrew Martin's video on the "ABCs" of it is very good. The best free stuff out there is some videos of Ben Feingold analyzing his games in it.

The first of these and two or three others have Czech Benoni. I don't remember which ones but the first one talks about other ideas of closed center as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=049NnoR1LGE&list=PLVWaFpMwtaGiBxi79IUqnqn67WF5g5PR4

*Finegold* (I can spell, really I can)

Using statistical percentages as an accurate measure (of the chance to have a closed center, or to win, or whatever) of a position would require that all the included variations be equally likely to occur. Or, in other words, that you refrain from any kind of individual mental effort, which would otherwise inevitably induce you to prefer some of those lines and avoid others, according to the specifics of your brain and psychical activity. But as far as playing in this way requires no cogitation, you need not strain for coming up with an elaborate strategy.

tl;dr: if you are to think and choose your moves, don't bother about percentages. If you are to use percentages, don't bother thinking and choosing your moves.

The grand prix attack or the closed scicillian is very good

I don't understand your category labeling 100% lol.

Space is considered an advantage so if they push the pawn forward their position is not inferior and if they maintain the tension their position is still not inferior.

However, I have some interesting line choices for you that match the idea of closed center.

• The Kings Indian Attack with 1.Nf3

• The Kings Indian Defence

• The Dutch System's which include:

1. Stone Wall Dutch
2. Leningrad Dutch
3. Classical Dutch

• The Stone Wall Attack as White.

However, I was talking about this in another thread the move order will have to be very unqiue.

• The French Advanced Variation

• The Caro Kann Advanced Variation

• The Hippo Defence

• The Pincer Attack

• The Czech Benoni

The lines I have with black text usually get locked position 75% of the time.

The lines I have highlighed in green text usually get locked position 50% of the time.

The lines I have highlighted in red text I would say get locked maybe 25% of the time.

You can play f5 in the Czech Benoni except when you can't. If you're aiming for that I think playing Bg7 which is a line of the KID is better, but the old way to play the Czech Beonini is to play Be7, Ne8, g6, Ng7, and then f5. The problem with this is White can play g4 and stop it, and if that's your whole plan, that's a problem. Finegold mentions both of those setups at the beginning of the video I posted as ways Yasser Seirawan has handled the position. I don't like either of those plans as much as the modern Knight maneuvers on the Kingside, but sometimes f5 is going to be best. It completely depends what your opponent plays. You can't even always play for f5 in the KID.

Thanks for your helpfulness XPlayerJX. You always post in many posts and give very good information. Thanks.

Guys, I have received some helpfull feedback. The consensus seems to be as follows:

Dutch Stonewall (Category A, B)

Botvinnik System (Category A, B)

KID and KIA (Category A, not sure about B)

Czech Benoni (Category A, B)

French?

Caro-Kann?

Now, the reason why I list these is because this post was made in an effort to gather more openings as White to play in a closed position and same for Black vs. 1.e4. I already am very happy with Dutch Stonewall against 1.d4, but may or may not give Czech Benoni or KID a try.

Speaking in terms of the White Side, is the KIA a Category A and B?

Speaking in terms of the Black Side, is the French and Caro-Kann a Category A or B?

Categories:

Category A: Closed-Center Positions are likely to occur.

Category B: Closed-Center Positions will occur 100% of the time unless the opponent goes into a variation that is objectively inferior to the closed position. That is, the best option for the opponent is to go into a closed-center position.

My own experience with Bird's Opening is too limited to give an opinion, but I know the symmetrical variation can turn into a Stonewall-like and Botvinnik-like setup that can get closed easily. Here's one online example I found where that happened...