The Fred Defense

Important variations are animated at the bottom of the page.

This is a very strange opening.  It is ranked as one of the best defenses for black, but it proves to be one of the worst.  The main line goes 1.e4, f5.  This is another crack headed idea like the king's gambit.  You will never see anyone with sense use it.  However, the openings you haven't seen before can be very dangerous.  That is why it is on this site.  Over all, the Fred Defense should be accepted every time because black has no compensation for a lost pawn.

The Incorrect Fred Defense   A B C D E F G H 8   7       6           5               4                 3                 2   1

No, this cannot turn into an easy checkmate for black.  It can turn into an easy checkmate for white.  Let's say that this person not only is as dumb as to use this defense, they do something like 2...b6 afterwards.  White has some serious threats here.  They both begin with 3. Qh5+.  Black has only one move: 3...g6.  After that, 4. pxp, pxp  5. Qxp#.  However, most people will see this coming, and rather that play pxp to lose the game, they will play 4...Nf6.  This threatens the queen, but really accomplishes nothing.  You can see this to the left.  Here is your  puzzle of the day.  The answer is 5.g7+.  After 5...NxQ, 6. pxR=Q.  Not only do you exchange a pawn for a rook, you get your queen back.  Black loses a rook, white loses nothing.

The Fred Defense Properly Played   A B C D E F G H 8   7   6               5               4                 3                 2   1

The only right way to play this is 2...Nf6.  This prevents an immediate Qh5+, but black's kingside is very vulnerable.  If he does not castle early, he will lose to a quick attack.  This is rarely played, so my expertise in this is low, but an idea is to play 3. Be2 for a small threat.  The only good way to refute this is to isolate a pawn: 3...g6 4. pxp, pxp.  Another idea is 3. g4 for an attack  You would follow up very soon with g5 to knock around the knight and once again go after the weak spot.  The kingside is in danger and the pressure points are too vulnerable.  I strongly suggest that you don't do this opening.