Playing Against the St. George


The St. George cannot, apparently, safely be avoided by White. White can take the game into uncharted territory, however, (which may be Black's goal) by playing what I call the "advance variation" of the opening:
1)e4 a6
2)d4 b5
3)e5 d6
4)Nf3 Bg4
5)h3 Bh5
6)g4!
White has taken Black out of his game and gained some serious space. 		4)Nf3 dxe5
5)Nxe5 Bb7
and the game is nearly equal
6)c4 e6
or even safer 6...Nd7
7)cxb5 Nxe5
8)dxe5 Qxd1
9)Kxd1 0-0-0
10)Nd2 axb5
11)Bxb5 Bxg2
Unclear, but close. Not necessarily a "St. Georgish" position. Open, with possibilities for both sides, one would think positionally as well as tactically.

So, White can take the upper hand if Black plays too aggressively. I am hard pressed to find lines in which White maintains an advantage regardless, and that is why I like the St. George as a defense for Black. In any case, the middle game has some slight influence on chess games, so I've heard! Back