Chess opening · ECO B00
St. George Defense
1...a6 opens the St. George Defense, a small pawn step that prepares ...b5 and a bishop on b7. From there the bishop presses on e4, and Black often adds ...e6 and ...c5 to take on White's center from the flank. White meets this by building a broad center with d4 and quick development.
- Rank by weighted share
- #120 of 159
Key moves
1. e4 a6
- 1... a6The pawn covers b5, so ...b5 can follow without dropping the pawn to Bxb5. It develops nothing yet, but it starts a queenside expansion that leads to ...Bb7 aimed down the a8-h1 diagonal at e4.
The b7 bishop against e4
After ...b5 and ...Bb7, the bishop attacks the e4 pawn, and ...Nf6 can add a second attacker. White often defends with Bd3 or Nc3. Black then looks for ...c5 to hit d4, leaving White to decide whether to hold the center with pawns or trade.
The b5 pawn can become a target. White can play a4 to question it, and Black can push ...b4, gaining space but giving up control of c4, or keep the tension, since the a6 pawn already guards b5.
Against an early Bc4
If White develops with 2.Bc4, eyeing f7, then 2...b5 hits the bishop at once and it must move, for example to b3. Black gains a tempo for the queenside plan, though White's bishop still points at f7 from its new square.
Setting up ...Bb7
2. d4 b5 3. Nf3 Bb7 4. Bd3 e6
The bishop on b7 already bears on e4, and White's bishop on d3 protects it. Black's next steps include ...c5 against d4 and ...Nf6 to add more pressure on e4.
Top replies by rating
d4 leads every band through 1999, with Nf3 in second place. Below 1800, Bc4 rounds out the top three, a square where ...b5 can hit the bishop straight away.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | d4 38% | Nf3 20% | Bc4 15% |
| 1200–1399 | d4 33% | Nf3 30% | Bc4 14% |
| 1400–1599 | d4 39% | Nf3 30% | Bc4 12% |
| 1600–1799 | d4 46% | Nf3 29% | Bc4 12% |
| 1800–1999 | d4 56% | Nf3 31% | f4 5% |
| 2000 and up | d4 86% | Nf3 14% | – |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.