Chessy
How to Play the Lasker Simul Special as Black
The Lasker Simul Special begins with 1.g3 h5, and then White must choose a plan in an unusual position. That makes this opening perfect for a drill: you do not need a huge amount of theory, but you do need to know the ideas that keep you out of trouble. The position is already a little better for White according to the engine, so your job is to stay calm, meet White’s setup sensibly, and recognise the common continuations and mistakes.
Play the Lasker Simul Special against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill and test your response as Black. Create a free account to practise the position and repeat it until the ideas feel natural.
Create a free account →What the position is really asking
After 1.g3 h5, White is to move and the game often becomes a fight over development and space rather than a forcing tactical line. Stockfish rates this +0.55, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here, so the practical goal is to keep the position compact and avoid drifting into an inferior game without a fight. This is a good position to train because White has several playable continuations, but some of them are noticeably more common than others.
The engine’s main answer
The engine’s best move here is Nf3. The continuation given is Nf3 Nf6 c4 c6. For your drill, that means you should be ready for White to develop naturally and for you to answer in a straightforward way. Do not panic about the early h5 move: the position is still about piece activity, king safety, and keeping your setup coherent.
What most players choose here
In the database, the most-played continuation is Bg2 with 124,451 games, and White scores 47.5% there. Other common choices are h4 with 7,949 games, b3 with 5,582 games, Nf3 with 4,936 games, e3 with 2,252 games, and d4 with 1,967 games. The numbers tell you this is not a one-line opening: White has several ways to continue, so your best approach is to understand the position rather than memorise a single trap.
The mistakes to punish
There are two known mistakes in this position. b3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 1.0 pawns; the better move was Nf3. e3 is also an inaccuracy and loses about 0.5 pawns; again, Nf3 was better. If White plays one of these, the lesson is simple: stay alert, keep developing, and do not waste the chance to make the most of White’s slip.
Results across 157,808 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bg2 | 124,451 | 47.5% |
| h4 | 7,949 | 47.8% |
| b3 | 5,582 | 48.3% |
| Nf3 | 4,936 | 47.9% |
| e3 | 2,252 | 43.0% |
| d4 | 1,967 | 49.0% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Lasker Simul Special good for Black?
The position after **1.g3 h5** is slightly better for White according to the engine. So it is not an opening where Black is clearly equal or better straight away. It is still very playable as a practical weapon if you know the ideas and keep your development sensible.
What is the best move for White in this position?
The engine’s best move here is **Nf3**. The listed continuation is **Nf3 Nf6 c4 c6**. In the drill, you should expect White to choose a natural developing move rather than something forcing.
What are White’s most common continuations?
The most-played continuation is **Bg2**, followed by **h4**, **b3**, **Nf3**, **e3**, and **d4**. This tells you that White has several reasonable plans from the same position. Your task is to answer them with solid, flexible play.
Which moves are known mistakes here?
Two moves are flagged as inaccuracies: **b3** and **e3**. Both are beaten by **Nf3** as the better move. If White chooses one of these, you should try to keep the pressure on and make the most of the improved position.
How many games feature the Lasker Simul Special?
Over 157K Lichess games have reached the Lasker Simul Special position. White wins 47.2%, Black wins 48.4%, with 4.4% draws — based on real rated games.