Michael Basman openings
Michael Basman openings
Definition
“Michael Basman openings” is an umbrella term used by many players to refer to the cluster of unorthodox opening systems that English International Master Michael John Basman (born 1946) analysed, promoted, and employed with remarkable persistence from the late 1960s onward. Basman favoured early pawn thrusts on the flanks—especially …g7-g5 or g2-g4, …a7-a6 and …h7-h6—combined with long-diagonal fianchettoes and delayed central occupation. While most of these ideas existed in earlier sources, Basman’s exhaustive writings (e.g. “Play the St George”) and hundreds of tournament games turned them into a recognisable “Basman brand”.
How the term is used
In conversation or commentary a player might say, “He’s going for a Basman opening here,” meaning the game is entering one of the IM’s trademark systems—often with a grin that acknowledges the off-beat, provocative nature of the choice. The term is informal; databases still catalogue each line under its traditional ECO code (e.g., B00, A00, B06). Nevertheless, grouping them under Basman’s name highlights the common strategic DNA and the historical evidence that Basman—more than any other master—proved their practical viability.
Strategic DNA
- Early flank pawn thrusts (g-pawn, a-pawn, or h-pawn) to seize kingside or queenside space and disrupt standard development schemes.
- Delayed centre: Basman often invites the opponent to occupy the middle, planning counter-punches with pawn breaks (…e6, …c5, …f6) or piece pressure along the long diagonals.
- Fianchettoes and hyper-modern ideas influenced by Réti and Nimzowitsch, but driven to extremes.
- Psychological warfare: taking opponents out of book on move 1 or 2, banking on superior understanding of unfamiliar positions.
Flagship examples
- Grob Attack (1. g4)
- Also called the “Basman Attack” in modern parlance.
- Typical continuation: .
- Borg Defense (1. e4 g5!? or 1. d4 g5!?)
- “Grob” spelled backwards—Basman’s tongue-in-cheek naming.
- St George Defense (1. e4 a6)
- Basman popularised it in the 1970s and authored the standard monograph on the line.
- Notable game: Miles – Karpov, Skara 1980, where Tony Miles (inspired by Basman) defeated the World Champion with 1…a6.
- Buckingham Gambit (1. e4 b6 2. d4 f5!?)
- Named after Basman’s hometown county.
- Basman-Petrov gambits with …h6 (e.g., 1. e4 e6 2. d4 h6
or 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 h6)
- Rationale: …g5 thrust is prepared while sidestepping conventional theory.
Historical and practical significance
Basman scored several IM norms and numerous upset victories with these lines, proving that “inferior” openings can be fully playable at master level when combined with deep study and psychological flair. His influence is visible in:
- Modern engine-backed gambiteers who revisit obscure ECO codes armed with new analytical muscle.
- Amateur and blitz culture, where surprise value often trumps long-term theoretical soundness.
- The English Chess Federation’s junior scene; Basman co-founded UK Chess Challenge, urging children to “have fun and experiment.”
Famous illustrations
- Basman vs. Nunn, London 1978 – Grob Attack yields a sharp middlegame where Basman sacrificed material for a lasting initiative.
- Basman vs. Short, British Ch. 1980 – St George Defense adopted by Black (Short) backfires when Basman shows intimate knowledge of the resulting structures.
- Miles vs. Karpov, Skara 1980 – Although not Basman’s game, his analysis of 1…a6 influenced Miles’s historic win.
Interesting facts & anecdotes
- Basman once arrived late to a game, banged out 1. g4 at blitz speed, and still defeated a bewildered GM in 26 moves.
- He humorously suggested calling 1…g5 the “Christopher Robin Defense,” claiming Winnie-the-Pooh’s friend would have enjoyed pushing the g-pawn.
- Basman’s experimental openings earned him the affectionate nickname “the Bad Man of British Chess.”
- While engines initially mocked 1…a6, Stockfish 15 at depth 40 now awards Black a respectable –0.20 after optimal play—proof that the line is not automatically refuted.
Related terms
In a nutshell
Michael Basman openings demonstrate that creativity and courage can bend—even briefly—chess’s iron laws. Whether you adopt them as surprise weapons or face them across the board, understanding their themes enriches your strategic toolkit and reminds you that chess history is written not only by world champions but also by fearless iconoclasts.