Is semi-chess out there?

From playing experience, I see that a false move by either side is decisive.

semi chess,up-side down chess, lost chess,960  chess....... Fisher still lingers.

The down-side of Semi Chess is that correct play leads more easily to draws, compared with standard chess; the up-side is that these Semi positions are good puzzles for chess beginners! A good illustration of all this is the continuation of the “2…g6 Semi-Sicilian” above, which does lead to a draw after some tricky maneuvering.

Hey SaharanKnight, I think there is a challenge in creating Semi-Openings since you only have half the board. With the Sicilian Defense (a generalized Sicilian), the first moves for black (1...c5 2...d6, etc), can be applied if you're playing on the Queenside of the board but then there's the question of the Kingside moves. Often, when I'm introducing the most basic opening principles, we concentrate on central file play (temporarily ignoring the flank files until the student understands the importance of central control). However, eventually the student is going to have to deal with the other files on the board. With that said, I still think your idea is a good one. By reducing the playing area, a student is forced to work smartly with a smaller number of pieces which might make learning piece coordination easier. I'm playing with a board on which only the Kingside pieces are in place and the empty half of the board is off limits. I'm enjoying this immensely. I really think you're on to a good teaching tool!

@ Hugh_T_Patterson:  Yes, as you said, in the Semi we are teaching BOTH control of the center squares with initial pawn moves and taking care of the flank files, especially when the rooks are there.

Now, before going on to new openings, the following is a brief summary of the “Semi-Sicilian 2…g6” as a teaching tool.

For experienced players:  The “Semi-Sicilian 2…g6” could be just a curiosity, with a draw possible after 22 moves, although we haven’t exhausted the possibilities yet.

For chess beginners:  The “Semi-Sicilian 2…g6” offers…

1)    White’s answer to Black’s checkmate threat at move 4;

2)    Black stopping the threat of a White pawn advance at move 5;

3)    The value of centrally-placed knights, with White’s knight staying put at f4, in contrast with the standard Sicilian Defense, and Black’s knight gaining the forward g4 square at move 8;

4)    The value of pawn formations in control of the center (you can see the pawn formations in quote #25);

5)    The opportunity to explore the optimal placement of bishops and rooks;

6)    The lesson that the King has at least a defensive role, if not pre-occupied with saving his own skin!

7)    The opportunity to calculate moves in advance and to see the pitfalls of bad moves and the security afforded by good moves.

FYI, I am looking at a couple of other Semi openings and would like to post them very soon. Have any readers to this blog tried out any openings, especially anything that may lead to an advantage for one side rather than a draw?

BISHOP’S PAWN SEMI-OPENING: Combat at g4 square

Semi openings offered here are a work in progress. There are a few weak moves, but at least they give us a feel for the Semi Chess game. The following Bishop’s Pawn Semi-Opening has an intriguing symmetrical position after two moves.

I think that these Semi Chess positions merit a closer look. For instance, in #10 above, the continuation after (maybe) 11.Ke2 with 11...f5 looks tempting for Black... or not?

At first glance, it seems that having only the major pieces on the board and not any minor pieces is rather atypical of standard chess. You see, I think the greatest value of half-board or Semi Chess is as a tool for new players to learn to move the pawns with various pieces in a more controlled half-board setting with the MAIN GOAL of learning standard chess better.

I don't see this as being more effective than giving material odds. As a scholastic coach, I don't see this really as simpler than regular chess. If anything, endgames are less important at lower levels and this is less effective than using a full board. 

Well, as a logical proposition, half-board chess is definitely simpler but also definitely not simple. Excuse me, but your statement above is not based on correct logic.

Listen to Hugh_T_Patterson in quote #26, please.

Part of the problem is that a lot of kids will forget most of what you cover. Requiring them to switch from half a board to a full board is another step. Ideally, a beginning student will learn how to not drop pieces while playing according to opening principles and then work on evaluation. In effect, dropping pieces is a result of deficiencies in tactical skill. Inevitably, you risk the student having more skill in a variant-related theme than a theme outside of the variant. (The piece you leave out will probably be a deficiency that needs to be addressed after you switch to a full board.) 

Also, I'd like to see how you propose this to the chess coaching community as a practical tool. It might just end up as a last resort or rarely used tool. 

Near the end, Hugh talks about learning piece coordination. And he is very positive about his use of half-board or Semi Chess. I suspect that what this teaches best is the importance of the character trait of thoroughness and effort (calculation), as well as piece coordination and certain tactical plays.

@minnesotachesscoach: As far as kids forgetting, that is missing the point of Semi Chess - or Chess 960 for that matter - which is the importance of teaching the skills in contrast to teaching opening theory. In fact, Semi Chess relies very little on opening principles compared to standard chess, while Chess 960 actually requires an acute understanding of the opening principles. For example, why exactly does the knight often need to be developed before the bishop? (There is a short answer and a long answer.)