Key ideas
- Some are useful waiting moves. After 1.a3 (Anderssen's Opening) or 1.e3 (Van't Kruijs Opening), play often transposes into a normal opening, such as an English or a Queen's Pawn Game, with White's extra pawn move as a small bonus.
- Others weaken White's own position. 1.f3 (the Barnes Opening) takes the knight's best square and opens the e1–h4 diagonal toward the king, while 1.Na3 (the Sodium Attack) and 1.Nh3 (the Amar Opening) put a knight on the edge, where it controls fewer squares.
- Their main value is surprise. With little theory to lean on, both players are thinking for themselves from move one, which is why these openings appear far more often in blitz and bullet than in classical chess.
Plans for White
Know which normal structure you are heading for, such as an English after 1.a3 or a quiet d3-and-e4 setup after 1.d3, rather than relying on surprise alone. Develop quickly, because the first move did little for your development.
Plans for Black
Take the centre with ...e5 and ...d5, develop knights and bishops toward the centre, and castle. There is no need to hunt for a refutation; a sound, active position is the practical answer.
Watch out
1.f3 e5 2.g4?? Qh4# is Fool's Mate, the fastest checkmate in chess. After moves that loosen the e1–h4 diagonal, check for ...Qh4+ before pushing the g-pawn.