Winning with the h-pawn openings!

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Avatar of BirdsDaWord

Guys, today I have truly been in an adventurous mood, playing some wild stuff like the Kadas Opening (1. h4) and the Goldsmith Defense (1. e4 h5).  The idea is brutally simple - plug the kingside with a thorn of a pawn, with ideas to either double the pawn structure, or to open lines for attack!  Both openings have a shady reputation, not because they are terrible, but because they reveal too much of your plan from move 1.  Moves such as 1. e4 or 1. d4 take control of the center, but they don't really show all of your cards in the beginning like moving the h-pawn!

I want to feature two games here.  Not that these are definitive by any means, but I am playing competition that is either equally matched or stronger than me in blitz play with these ideas.  I take my opponent out of book in the first moves, so he must always be watching that sneaky little pawn :-)

The first game I am going to post is not a Goldsmith, but rather a Lasker simul special (1. g3 h5).  It has terrible ratings in the Explorer, but the idea is simple - attack the weakness from move 1.   Here is the game:

Next, I want to showcase a win with the Kadas, 1. h4.  

Someone may say, "These are not great examples of games!"  Although it is true that they are not "awesome" per se, it is cool to take an opening that is borderline taboo and use it to good effect!


Avatar of overclockedapebrain

What would Jeebus play?

Avatar of BirdsDaWord

He would play the Smiley-Pie Opening!  This is the pawn structure, and it is extremely advanced stuff.

Avatar of Pikachulord6

@Birdbrain: Looks fun! :)  I'm not sure how strong this sort of opening would be in slower games and against stiffer competition, but it's definitely got surprise value and there's always the fun factor. I don't think I'd be quite brave enough to play this in a serious game, but I have played quite a few casual games with a friend, in which we tried to outdo one another in opening insanity!

Avatar of BirdsDaWord

Pika, it definitely is fun!

Avatar of BirdsDaWord

It really is a lot of fun!  Do you play the 2. h5 stuff, or go straight for 2. c3 then?

Avatar of judsaw

I think these are not good examples of games because they didn't developed their pieces quickly,If they did I think they would have an advantage.

Avatar of BirdsDaWord

Judsaw, don't take these as "doctrine".  They are simply fun games where I beat opponents who were equal or greater in rating with h-pawn openings.  It is not to say that 1. h4 is superior, because it isn't.  Instead, it shows that stuff happens when the theory is thrown out the window.

Avatar of BirdsDaWord

Thank you top2pr!

Avatar of BirdsDaWord

Polleke, who are you trying to fool?!? Cool

Avatar of Philipper

Nice attacking games! Especially the second game with the Kadas opening. I will give it a try!

Avatar of BirdsDaWord

Philipper, you don't have to go as hardcore as me with 2. h5!  Polleke's 2. c3 sounds pretty interesting!