Pickering Defense

Infobox chess opening

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moves = 1. e4 h5
ECO = B00
birth =
nameorigin =
parentopening = King's Pawn Game
AKA = Goldsmith Defense
chessgid = 3627015&move=2&moves=e4.h5The Pickering DefenseFact|date=October 2008 or Goldsmith DefenseFact|date=October 2008 is a dubious chess opening beginning with the moves:

:1. e4 h5?!

This defense is considered a very weak response to the King's Pawn Opening, and is usually considered even worse than the Corn Stalk Defense [http://chess.about.com/] , as not only does it not open any lines for development and allow White quick and easy development, it additionally weakens Black's king position slightly. Note the development of the rook to h6 can easily be prevented by 2. d4.

Variations

The only named variation in the Pickering Defense is known as the Picklepuss Defense [http://chess.about.com/] . It is characterized by the following moves:

*2. d4 Nf6

Here is the estimated popularity of White's second moves:

* 2. d4- 44%
* 2. Bc4- 33%
* 2. Be2 (threatening the h5 pawn.) - 22%

References

See also

* Corn Stalk Defense
* Semi-Open Game

External links

* http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Lab/7378/h5.htm (Bill Wall's online games with the Pickering Defense, as White and Black).