Summary
1.g3 h5 opens the Lasker Simul Special, ECO A00. A genuinely bizarre answer to 1.g3. Black throws the h-pawn forward, hoping to advance further and pry open the h-file before any normal development occurs.
Strategic Overview
1...h5 is the kind of move that earns a name not because it's good but because it's memorable. The idea is concrete: push the h-pawn another square to h4, hit the g3 pawn, and try to crack open the h-file for attacking purposes. Against the King's Indian Attack setup, this can be more annoying than it first appears, because White's plan involves castling kingside, which means an open h-file might point straight at the king. That said, the move costs Black a tempo on routine development and weakens the queenside in advance. White can respond by simply ignoring the h-pawn and developing normally — the centre is still up for grabs, and any flank attack without a developed army tends to fizzle. The Lasker Simul Special is exactly what it sounds like: an unorthodox try suitable for simultaneous exhibitions or for surprise value in club games. It is not a serious main-line answer to 1.g3.
History and Notable Players
It arises from the Benko's Opening.
Common Mistakes
- Drifting away from main theory — At 400 Elo, the three most-played moves cover 74.4% of games, against 91% at 2000. The most popular deviation is b3 (played 6.1% of the time at 400, much less so up top). It looks fine but quietly hands the better-prepared side an edge.
- Neglecting development — It can feel productive to make extra pawn moves early, but falling behind in piece development is what loses most amateur games — especially in open positions where active pieces find squares fast.
- Playing without a plan — Each Lasker Simul Special middlegame demands a specific approach. Decide whether the position calls for attack, manoeuvre, or simplification before reaching for a move.
Practice on Chessiverse
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