Who of you likes playing "unusual openings?"
By betterdays
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
Philippines
April 13, 2012 8:03am CST
For white, I generally play 1. d4 but sometimes I also play the Bird's opening which starts with the move 1. f4. Sometimes when i feel adventurous, I try to play Sokolski opening (1.b4) or the Larsen opening (1.b3). At times I also try the King's Indian Attack starting with 1.d3 which is the King's Indian in reverse. I do play these openings because I have studied the proper continuations and the principles and ideas behind those first moves. For black, I often answer 1. d4 with the Dutch (1...f5)and for 1. e4, one of my unusual response would be 1...b6. Unusual openings can be a surprise to many players who aren't familiar with that opening and didn't know how to continue. But because you have studied it more than your opponent, you may have a good edge against them in many cases. How about you, what types of unusual openings do you try out and why?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@topffer (42155)
• France
13 Apr 12
I have never seen the interest of 1.d3. It is irregular, but not enough to trouble an average player. Kasparov tried it against Deep Blue, and the final result has been a draw. 1.b3 and 1.b4 are more disturbing
.
Times to times I use some awkward openings like 1.Nc3 (Romanian opening) or 1.Nh3 (Amar also called ammonia opening : NH3=ammonia
). Both are playable, though the second is not serious : when your opponent has seen it once developed until a castling, it is better to try another opening
.
.
Times to times I use some awkward openings like 1.Nc3 (Romanian opening) or 1.Nh3 (Amar also called ammonia opening : NH3=ammonia). Both are playable, though the second is not serious : when your opponent has seen it once developed until a castling, it is better to try another opening.@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
14 Apr 12
I have seen 1. Nc3 before and even tried it, but the move 1.Nh3 is really intriguing to me because it goes against a basic principle to place your pieces in the center of the board. I guess this knight might later on go to f2 via Nf2 after playing f3 or f4, i guess. There are variations in the Bird's opening where I do play Nh3 then after that places it on Nf2 where it has a very solid placement and can do a lot of defensive things and gives an overall solid foundation in your position. I bet you have a book about this 1. Nh3 or Amar opening as you called it, or else you might find yourself losing a lot with it. Interesting indeed!:)
1 person likes this
@topffer (42155)
• France
14 Apr 12
Amar was a French player in the 1930's and this opening is generally analyzed in French chess books. In fact there are several named variations. Seeing your avatar, I am not surprised by your choice, named "the Krazy Kat variation"
: 1.Nh3 e5 2.f3 d5 3.Nf2
I have noticed several times at myLot that avatars were reflecting members' personalities : you are definitely a cat, BetterDays4Me
. And a strong chess player
.
: 1.Nh3 e5 2.f3 d5 3.Nf2
I have noticed several times at myLot that avatars were reflecting members' personalities : you are definitely a cat, BetterDays4Me. And a strong chess player.@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
17 Apr 12
I am right! I imagined the knight to go to Nf2 sooner or later by playing f3 or f4, and in your example it's f3 :D You are correct also that in most cases if not all, the member's avatars reflects something about them. Anyway, you have good analytical mind for guessing correctly. :)
@prashu228 (37518)
• India
17 Apr 12
In my view dutch is not an unusual opening. well sokolsky or polish (b4) opening is unusual!! && there are few unusual openings like the Elephant Gambit also called as Queen's pawn counter gambit or Englund counter Gambit which is rarely played ( e4 e5 Nf3 d5!?.) and there are few more , Saragossa is one of them which starts with (c3).
Let's explore the b4 opening and how would black encounter this?
@BetterDays4Me (3777)
• Philippines
17 Apr 12
Thanks for the correction. Yes, the Dutch opening I believe is quite often played defense for black so it can't be considered unusual. I don't know much about Elephant gambit, but I've seen it before. I think after black's 2...d5, I can imagine only two options which are 3. ed5, 3. Nc3. Are there other options than these two? How about the Saragossa opening, does the opening often end up like a Slav in reverse? i.e.( 1. c3 d5 2. d4 )
@prashu228 (37518)
• India
17 Apr 12
thanks for your the two possible moves you gave for englund gambit!!. coming to sargoosa opening you are right if black responds with d5 but what if black responds with e5? how would white continue??
