Play the St. George by Michael Basmon

Play the St. George by Michael Basman is a repertoire-style opening book centered on the provocative and highly unorthodox St. George Defence (1…a6), an opening closely associated with Basman’s creative and offbeat chess philosophy.

The book explains how Black can deliberately step away from mainstream theory, using …a6 followed by …b5 and piece development on flexible squares to create asymmetrical and psychologically challenging positions.

Basman emphasizes practical surprise value, independent thinking, and unbalanced pawn structures, aiming to take opponents out of familiar theoretical territory early in the game.

It includes annotated games and illustrative ideas showing how Black can generate counterplay on the queenside while maintaining solid defensive resources.

The approach prioritizes creativity and practical chances over objective theoretical approval, making it particularly appealing in club-level and rapid play contexts.

A useful resource for adventurous players and opening experimenters, especially those interested in offbeat systems that rely on originality and practical discomfort rather than mainstream theory.

Condition: Good condition.