ECO A00 · Clemenz Opening

Clemenz Opening: Spike Lee Gambit

1. h3 h5 2. g4

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

2… hxg4−1.24

Black is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Clemenz Opening: Spike Lee Gambit (A00), reached after 1. h3 h5 2. g4, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… hxg4 for Black. Black is clearly better (−1.24).

Top engine moves

  1. −1.242… hxg4 3. d4 d5 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 gxh3 7. Bxf6
  2. −1.192… Nc6 3. gxh5 e5 4. d3 d5 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. Bg5 Rxh5 7. h4
  3. −0.982… d5 3. g5 e5 4. d4 exd4 5. Nf3 Ne7 6. Qxd4 Nbc6 7. Qa4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Clemenz Opening: Spike Lee Gambit?
After 1. h3 h5 2. g4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… hxg4 for Black, continuing 3. d4 d5 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 gxh3 7. Bxf6. Black is clearly better (−1.24). The next best moves are 2… Nc6 (−1.19) and 2… d5 (−0.98).
Is the Clemenz Opening: Spike Lee Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −1.24: black is clearly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Clemenz Opening: Spike Lee Gambit?
A00. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).