The hippopotamus, as every big game hunter knows, is a deceptively dangerous beast. And so, in the chess world, is the Hippopotamus Defense. To opponents unfamiliar with it, it looks awkward and unaggressive—until it crushes the life out of their favorite openings. Andrew Martin analyzes the basic moves and key variations of the Hippopotamus, showing with illustrative games how it confuses the average player yet is inherently sound enough for Grandmaster competition. In these days of huge databases and long forcing lines, the Hippopotamus stands out, offering everyone the chance to play chess in an original and interesting way.