St. George Defense and Dunst Opening
St. George Defense (also “Baker’s Defense”)
Definition
The St. George Defense is an off-beat response to 1. e4 that begins with the surprising move 1…a6!? Its most common continuation is 2. d4 b5, when Black expands on the queenside before developing pieces. In ECO it is catalogued under B00.
Typical Move Order
- 1. e4 a6 2. d4 b5 3. Nf3 Bb7 4. Bd3 e6
- 1. e4 a6 2. d4 Nf6 (a Miles favorite, delaying …b5)
- Transpositions: after …b5 and …Bb7 it can resemble a Queen’s Indian set-up turned upside-down.
Strategic Themes
- Queenside space: …b5 seizes squares on the a- and b-files and prepares …Bb7, pointing the bishop at e4.
- Hypermodern concept: Black invites White to occupy the center early, planning to undermine it later with …c5, …d6, or …Nf6.
- Asymmetry: Because Black’s a-pawn advances on the first move, normal theory is sparse, forcing both sides to think independently.
- Delayed king safety: …a6 and …b5 postpone kingside development; accurate calculation is a must to avoid early tactics on the long diagonal a2–g8.
Historical Notes
The defense is named after the 19th-century St George’s Chess Club in London, whose members—including John Cochrane—experimented with the idea. It slept in obscurity until the English maverick Michael Basman revived it in the 1970s. Its greatest day came at the European Team Championship, Skara 1980, when Tony Miles stunned World Champion Anatoly Karpov with 1…a6 and went on to win.
Illustrative Game
Karpov – Miles, Skara 1980 (annotated excerpt)
After the memorable 1…a6, Miles steered the game into uncharted waters and gradually outmaneuvered Karpov—a result that single-handedly boosted the opening’s reputation.
When to Use It
- You relish unbalanced positions and have studied the resulting structures more than your opponent.
- You want to sidestep theory without giving up all chances for counterplay.
- Rapid & Blitz: its surprise value increases as time controls shorten.
Interesting Facts
- GM Hikaru Nakamura has tried 1…a6 in online bullet, once following it up with 2…h6 just for symmetry!
- Because the move …a6 can be played after virtually any first move by White, the defense occasionally pops up against closed openings, producing a “St George Sicilian” (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6) or a “St George French” (1. e4 e6 2. d4 a6).
- The modern engine era has not refuted 1…a6; Stockfish gives White a small plus, yet practical results are surprisingly resilient for Black in human play.
Dunst Opening (1. Nc3) — also known as the Van Geet or Sleipnir Opening
Definition
The Dunst Opening is the move 1. Nc3 by White on the very first turn. It develops a knight toward the center while keeping both central pawns flexible. Because it does not commit a pawn, it can transpose into an incredible variety of openings or remain independent with early f2–f4, g2–g3, or e2–e4.
Origin of the Name
Theodore “Ted” Dunst, an American master active in New York during the 1920s–40s, frequently employed 1. Nc3 in club and tournament play. In Europe it is often called the Van Geet Opening after Dutch IM Dirk Daniel van Geet, while Scandinavian sources use Sleipnir (Odin’s eight-legged horse!) as a nod to the knight’s shape.
Typical Continuations
- 1…d5 2. e4 (Frenched-up transposition, Vienna style)
- 1…Nf6 2. e4 e5 3. Nf3 (back into a Four Knights Game!)
- 1…e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 (Scotch-like)
- 1…c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 (Open Sicilian with colors reversed)
Strategic Themes
- Flexibility: White can choose at leisure which pawn to advance to the center (c-, d-, or e-pawn).
- Rapid piece play: After 2. e4 or 2. d4, White often reaches an Open Game with one extra developed piece.
- Risk of blocking: Placing the queen’s knight on c3 may obstruct the c-pawn, making breaks with c2–c4 harder and slightly weakening d5.
Illustrative Miniature
Van Geet – Scholten, Dutch Championship 1965
White exploited early central tension and piece activity to win material before move 20, showcasing the opening’s tactical potential.
Modern Usage
Although rarely seen at elite classical level, 1. Nc3 has become a popular surprise weapon in rapid and online play. Grandmasters such as Richard Rapport, Hikaru Nakamura, and Baadur Jobava have scored notable wins with it. Rapport in particular enjoys combining 1. Nc3 with an early f2–f4, creating Jobava-London–like structures.
Pros & Cons
- Pros
- Side-steps heavy theory immediately.
- Can transpose into known openings you like while avoiding those you dislike.
- Works well in must-win situations where complexity is desired.
- Cons
- Blocks the c-pawn, sometimes limiting queenside expansion.
- If Black reacts accurately (e.g., 1…d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bg5 e6), the position can resemble a bad Veresov with less bite.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The opening’s ECO code A00 is shared with other “irregular” first moves such as 1. g4 or 1. b4.
- Van Geet reportedly played over 10,000 correspondence games featuring 1. Nc3, compiling one of the largest single-opening databases well before computers.
- Its nickname Sleipnir arose on Norwegian forums; like Odin’s mythical horse, the opening “can go anywhere.”
Practical Tips
- Against 1…d5, consider 2. e4 for immediate central confrontation, but be ready for Scandinavian-style lines after 2…dxe4.
- Keep an eye on the d5-square; because c2–c4 is harder, placing a pawn on e4 early is often critical to control it.
- If Black plays 1…e5, the simple 2. Nf3 lets you choose between Scotch (d4) and Vienna (Bc4 or g3) set-ups with a tempo up.