Bizarre Openings...

[LockStock]

What do you do against Bizarre openings? Do you just run with the game as normal, or when they do something awkward do you change it up?

For example, this is what I just played, I'm black.
1.a3?e5
2.b4 d5
3.c3 f5

How do you continue against an opponent like this, what are you looking to do? Create pressure for white's king side (he eventually did have a Indian Defense looking set up on that side) It's obvious he's going to castle over there.

I don't know, what do you look to do when being presented with an odd board set up like this? Are you trying to exploit and create as much pressure on the pawn at the end of the chain that is the queen's pawn? That's a heavily defended pawn. Do you pressure King side with White having an open corner that he can move around.

What would you do? Pretend they open with a3, and they're going to create a line of pawns a3, b4, c3.

What's your course of action?

[Chuckychess]

First of all, 1 a3 (which is called Anderssen's Opening) does NOT deserve a question mark, IMO. Black can at best equalize against reasonable play by White. And 1 b4 e5 2 a3 is a variation of the Polish Opening. In general, if White lets you occupy the center with pawns, then you should do so. I'm not real fond of playing an early ...f5 though. One could do quite well in chess without EVER playing ...f5 in the opening, unless it is forced or is clearly the best move.

I suggest playing "Reinfeld Chess" whenever possible:

a) Put pawns on e5 and d5,
b) Put knights on c6 and f6
c) Put bishops on c5 and f5
d) Castle kingside unless White has already started an attack on that wing.

In your example (1 a3 2 b4 3 c3), Black can't play ...Bc5, but the KB is also fine on d6.

In general, follow these rules in the opening whenever possible:

1. Develop your minor pieces as quickly as possible.
2. Castle early, usually on the kingside.
3. Try to control the center.
4. Don't move a piece more than once unless it is forced or is clearly the best move.
5. Don't make unforced pawn moves, except for P-Q4, P-K4 and either P-QB4 or P-QB3.
6. Develop your Queen only on the 2nd or (sometimes) the 3rd rank.
7. Place your rooks on open, semi-open, or soon-to-be open files.

Hope that helps.<br><br>Post edited by: Chuckychess, at: 2009/03/31 03:04

[Ravendon]

From White's play it is obvious that he has no clue about how to play the openings or he's a very strong player and he's toying with his food.

It doesn't matter what his strength is.

Bad openings are bad openings.

Even if your opponent is strong enough to crush you in any opening you play, you should play the best moves possible.

In your example, you did well.

He is letting you play however you want, so you opted to take control over the center.

I probably wouldn't have played f5 weakening my Kingside. But, it's perfectly playable.

Personally, I would have tried to develop faster. If he's giving you time as White, then you should take advantage of it. Nf6, Be7, 0-0, c5, a6, Nc6, Bg4 or Bf5, etc. are all normal developing moves.

Since he's giving you moves, you can play whatever you want and I'm sure there are moves that develop and do not weaken your position unnecessarily.

Develop to good squares, don't get behind in development, try to develop with tempo gains or with double attacks, maintain control over the center.

Keep those tips in mind and you should always be in the fight.


LockStock wrote:

What do you do against Bizarre openings? Do you just run with the game as normal, or when they do something awkward do you change it up?

For example, this is what I just played, I'm black.
1.a3?e5
2.b4 d5
3.c3 f5

How do you continue against an opponent like this, what are you looking to do? Create pressure for white's king side (he eventually did have a Indian Defense looking set up on that side) It's obvious he's going to castle over there.

I don't know, what do you look to do when being presented with an odd board set up like this? Are you trying to exploit and create as much pressure on the pawn at the end of the chain that is the queen's pawn? That's a heavily defended pawn. Do you pressure King side with White having an open corner that he can move around.

What would you do? Pretend they open with a3, and they're going to create a line of pawns a3, b4, c3.

What's your course of action?