Svitlana's Smart Moves - Attacking the English with ...h5!?

by Arne Kaehler
7/9/2025 – Svitlana presents an unconventional yet effective way to combat the English Opening by responding with 1...e5 and then an early ...h5, aiming to unsettle White's typical kingside fianchetto plans. The line offers dynamic attacking potential with ideas like ...h4, or even ...g5, depending on how White responds, and even top blitz players have experimented with it. While engines consider some White responses (like Nf3 followed by h4) slightly better, the surprise value and aggressive intent behind this line make it a strong practical weapon, especially in blitz and rapid games.
The King‘s Indian Attack is a universal opening: easy to learn, flexible, and rich in both tactical and positional opportunities.

Svitlana's Smart Moves - Episode 120

With Svitlana Demchenko and Arne Kaehler

Svitlana Demchenko is a 20-year-old, Canadian WIM and chess coach. Here and now, she will teach us plenty of smart moves on the board, ranging from tactics, strategies, openings, and everything else chess-related. In the process, I'm happy to be available as a student at club player level, and pester the Women's International Master with questions. Anyone who wants to strengthen their chess skills is welcome to watch, and actively replay the positions from the video on our chessboard.

Click Layout to hide solution:

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,185,00854%2421---
1.d4959,51055%2434---
1.Nf3286,50356%2441---
1.c4184,83456%2442---
1.g319,89256%2427---
1.b314,60054%2428---
1.f45,95448%2377---
1.Nc33,91150%2384---
1.b41,79148%2379---
1.a31,25054%2406---
1.e31,08149%2409---
1.d396950%2378---
1.g467046%2361---
1.h446654%2382---
1.c343951%2425---
1.h328956%2420---
1.a411860%2461---
1.f310047%2427---
1.Nh39366%2506---
1.Na34762%2476---
1.c4 e5 2.g3 In case of 2.Nc3 similar positions can be reached after Nf6 3.g3 The only exception would be: 3.Nf3 e4 4.Ng5 c6 5.Ngxe4 Nxe4 6.Nxe4 d5 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.Ng3 h5 9.e3 9.h4 Bg4 10.Qa4+ Nc6 11.e3 Bd6 9...h4 10.Ne2! 10.Bb5+ Nc6 11.Ne2 h3 12.g3 12.gxh3 Rxh3 12...a6 13.Bxc6+ bxc6 14.0-0 14.d4? Bg4 14...Qf6= 10...Nc6 11.d4 Qf6 12.Nc3 Qg6 13.Nxd5 Bd6 3...h5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bg2 d6 6.d3 6.d4 exd4 7.Nxd4 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 h4 9.gxh4 c6 6...Be7 7.0-0 Nd4 8.Nxd4 8.Be3 Nxf3+ 9.exf3! h4 8...exd4 9.Nd5 Nxd5 10.cxd5 Bd7= 2...h5 3.h4 The most common response. 3.Bg2 h4 4.Nc3 4.d4 exd4 5.Qxd4 Nc6 6.Qe3+ 6.Qf4 Bd6 7.Qe3+ Qe7 6...Qe7 7.Nc3 Qxe3 8.Bxe3 Bb4 9.Rc1 d6= 4...d6 5.Nf3 h3 6.Bf1 g5 The best response is: 3.Nf3 e4 4.Nh4! 4.Nd4 d5 5.cxd5 Qxd5 6.Nb3 e3 7.f3 h4 8.Nc3 Qg5 4.Ne5 d6-+ 4.Ng1 h4 5.Bg2 Nf6 4...Be7 5.Nf5 5.Nc3 Bxh4 6.gxh4 Qxh4 7.d3 exd3 8.Qxd3 Ne7± 5...d5 Another alternative: 5...Bf6 6.Ne3 6.Nc3 d5! 7.Nh4 c6 6.Bg2 d5 7.Ne3 d4 8.Nd5 c6 9.Nxf6+ Nxf6 6...Nc6 7.Bg2 d6 8.Bxe4 h4± 6.Nxe7 Nxe7 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bg2 0-0 9.Bxe4 Re8 10.f3 10.d3 Bh3 10.Bg2 Nc6 10...Bh3 11.d4 Qd7 12.Nc3 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Rxe4 14.fxe4 Bg2 15.Rg1 Bxe4 3.Nc3 h4 4.Nf3 hxg3 5.fxg3 d6 3.h3 Nf6 3...h4 4.g4 4.Bg2 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Nc3 Be6 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.0-0= 3...Nc6 4.Bg2 Bc5 5.Nc3 5.e3 d6 6.Nc3 Bg4 7.Nge2 a6 8.0-0 Ba7 8...g5 9.d4 g5!? 10.Qb3 10.hxg5? Qxg5 11.b4 h4 10.d5 Nb8 10...Rb8 11.d5 Nce7 12.hxg5 Ng6 13.f3 Bd7 14.f4 f5 5...d6 6.d3 a5 7.Nf3 Bg4 8.0-0 Qd7=
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Attacking the English-with ...h5- A20

(If necessary, press the blue arrow on the right side)

If you like Svitlana's Smart moves, you will certainly enjoy her video lectures about "Surprising your opponents with the Lazy Sicilian", her first Fritztrainer "Understanding Material Imbalances", and her courses "The Scotch Game", and the "Leningrad Dutch Defence". Her newest Entry is the "King's Indian Attack"!

In just 60 minutes, you will be well-equipped with a surprise weapon, which will take most of your opponents out of book right from the start.

This DVD focuses on several types of material imbalances, such as Rook vs 2 Pieces, Queen vs 2 Rooks, and Queen vs Pieces.

Besides in-depth theory and exciting tactical exercises in the Scotch Game, this video course also includes a bonus section on the Scotch Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Bc4), a lively variation often leading to very dynamic positions.

The Leningrad Dutch Defence is a dynamic and aggressive opening choice for Black, perfect for players who want to add some adventure and spice to their repertoire.

The King‘s Indian Attack is a universal opening: easy to learn, flexible, and rich in both tactical and positional opportunities.

Links:

<< Lots of fun for Black!
Wei Yi beats Levon Aronian in classical and rapid chess match >>
Topics: coach, Svitlana Demchenko, Svitlana's Smart Moves
Arne Kaehler, a creative mind who is passionate about board games in general, was born in Hamburg and learned to play chess at a young age. By teaching chess to youth teams and creating chess-related videos on YouTube, Arne was able to expand this passion and has even created an online course for anyone who wants to learn how to play chess. Arne writes for the English and German news sites, but focuses mainly on content for the ChessBase media channels.
Discussion and Feedback Submit your feedback to the editors

See also

Svitlana's Smart Moves - How to play against the King's Gambit!

6/28/2025 – In this episode, Svitlana offers a comprehensive guide on how to play against the King's Gambit, an aggressive and historic opening that begins with 1.e4 e5 2.f4. While it's less common in high-level chess today, it still appears in club-level play and can lead to sharp tactical battles. Svitlana walks through multiple lines, including sideline traps and the main variations with 3.Nf3 and 3.Bc4, emphasising key defensive setups for Black, such as the flexible ...Nf6 line and the importance of early counterplay. She highlights thematic tactics, development priorities, and typical traps, ultimately showing how to neutralize White's initiative and even seize the advantage with correct preparation.
More...
 1

See also

Svitlana's Smart Moves - The tricky Evans Gambit

6/14/2025 – In this episode, Svitlana gives an in-depth introduction to the Evans Gambit, a sharp and aggressive opening in the Italian Game that sacrifices a pawn to gain rapid development and attacking chances. She explains the main ideas for both sides, key traps, and various defensive setups for Black, emphasizing how crucial preparation and understanding of typical tactical patterns are. The lesson concludes with historical context, including a look at the famous "Evergreen Game" by Anderssen, and encourages viewers to explore this opening for its practical surprise value and rich attacking potential.
More...
 1

Video

MiddleGame 08594EC Springing pawns

A pawn move can change the character of the whole position. Jussupow-Anand (Linares 1991) is all about such powerful pawn moves.
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.