1. e4 g6

The game opens up a little differently than you have seen. White puts a pawn in the center while Black prepared to fianchetto his bishop, striking at the center through the flank. This is one of the hypermodern openings.

Openings are divided up into five general categories: 1. e4 e5; 1. e4 something else; 1. d4 d5; 1. d4 something else; and 1. something else. These categories are rather wide, and there is sometimes some overlap. In the current game we begin with 1. e4 something else, but later Black plays … e7-e5, so it's not entirely clear in which category this opening belongs.

2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Be2 0-0 6. 0-0.

Both players have been developing pieces and focusing on king safety and the center. White has an extra piece in play and an extra center pawn, but of course it is Black's move. The opening has turned into the Pirc Defense, which is named after Vasja Pirc, a twentieth-century Yugoslavian grandmaster.

6…. c6.

Black opens a diagonal for his queen and fights for control of the central square d5.

7. h3.

White makes sure the f3-knight will not get pinned.

So far the players have been careful with each other. Nothing very exciting has happened, but each player has been building up a solid position, hoping to be ready for the threats when they come.