Openings Other answers to 1.e4

St. George Defense (1...a6): Lines and Stats by Rating

1...a6 prepares ...b5 and ...Bb7, a queenside fianchetto with extra space. It became famous when Tony Miles beat world champion Anatoly Karpov with it in 1980, but it gives White the center for free.

For Black1.e4 a6Seen in 0.2% of rated games

Lichess rating

B00St. George Defense

Games from this position (1600–1999): 9,803

Played	Games	White · Draw · Black
48%	4,688	51%46%
29%	2,807	46%50%
8%	759	43%53%
5%	505	50%48%
5%	502	49%48%
2%	173	50%44%
0.6%	59	47%49%
0.5%	50	28%70%
0.5%	45	64%33%
0.4%	42	38%57%
0.4%	36	50%47%
0.4%	35	43%51%

Practice as White Practice as Black

Plans for both sides

White

2.d4 b5 3.Nf3 Bb7 4.Bd3 is a simple setup: protect e4 and develop.
3.a4 or 3.c4 hits the b5 pawn at once and opens lines on the queenside.
Keep your center pawns supported; Black’s plan is to undermine them with ...c5 and ...e6.

Black

After 2.d4 b5, ...Bb7, ...e6, ...c5 and ...Nf6 hit e4 and d4.
Watch the b5 pawn: against a4 or c4 be ready with ...b4 or ...bxc4.
It is a surprise weapon; much of its success comes from opponents who do not know what to do.

St. George Defense at each rating

How often the position after 1.e4 a6 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.

Rating	Games (Share of games)	White · Draw · Black	Top next move
<1200	4,5190.2%	51%45%	2.Nf332%
1200–1599	11k0.2%	50%46%	2.d438%
1600–1999	9,8030.2%	48%48%	2.d448%
2000+	2,4780.1%	47%48%	2.d464%
All	28k0.2%	50%47%	2.d442%

What usually comes next

The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.

Main variations

The calm main line. Black hits d4 with ...c5 and develops with ...Nf6.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.e4 a6 2.d4 b5 3.Nf3 Bb7 4.Bd3 e6 5.O-O c5 6.c3
White attacks b5 at once; after 3...b4 the pawn is safe but Black’s queenside is loose.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.e4 a6 2.d4 b5 3.a4 b4
White trades the c-pawn for the b-pawn and develops fast; Black is left with an extra central pawn.
94 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 51%, 2% were drawn, Black won 47%.
Show on the board: 1.e4 a6 2.d4 b5 3.c4 bxc4 4.Bxc4

At club level

Below 1200 White scores about 54% after 1...a6, but at 2000+ only about 49%. After 2.d4 b5, players below 2000 mostly play 3.Nf3, while at 2000+ the choices are spread between 3.Bd3, 3.Nf3, 3.c4 and 3.a4.

Practice it

The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.

Practice as Black Practice as White

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