a4 vs h4

post your thoughts. I prefer a4 since it has less complications and less openings against it, so it is easier to keep the advantage white gets. There are still a lot of sharp positions but compared to h4 i think a4 is easier to play

I prefer h4. See my post in the e4 vs d4 thread for more information :)

Is this thread meant to be a parody of e4 vs d4?

I prefer a4 because if u play h4 u commit ur king either to the center or to queen's side or weakened king side in which case Black could reply 1-h4 e5 and gain some pressure on u because most theoretical replies won't make ur King safe in queen's side but 1- a4 e5 then no problems u can always castle king side and u have gained time if Black thinks of castling Queen side

Both a4 and h4 are crap. a3 (Anderssen's opening) with ideas like b4, expanding on the queenside at some point, is much better, although very unambitious for white. But a4/h4, what's the point? Moving the pawn only one square retains flexibility and I suggest you play a3 if you like playing this kind of nonconservative openings. It's playable. For a friendly blitz game, though, where I want to go berserk, I would play h4 with an attack on black's kingside looming. Although objectively speaking it's total crap.

btw if you look in all the good databases it will show better results for a4 than for h4. this is because it is much easier to secure an advantage with a4.

of course! a4 is much better.

a plan of a4, b4 and Ba3 is actually somewhat legit, while with h4 you'll likely have a permanent problem with king safety.

You know Blum , this somehow reminds me of a statement somebody put forward in another thread on this site . I think it had something to do with playing 1.e4 or 1.d4 .

my record against h4 is a lot better than against a4, and i think this is the case with the majority of players too. I also have better winning percentages with a4.

quick send out our weakest warrior to flank their position ever get the feeling that these are a generals last known words?

Blum : My records against 1.a4 and 1.h4 are almost the same. This means I don't belong to this majority.

In general I think it's a matter of taste whether to play 1.a4 or 1.h4 because they both aim for a simular goal :

1) You effectively avoid having any control over the centre.

2) You give your King a save spot in the middle of the board.

3) You avoid the succesfull development of your pieces.

I believe this should be convincing enough to render 1.a4 and 1.h4 as being superiour to say something like 1.e4 or , for that matter 1.d4 .

Macer75 wrote : Is this thread meant to be a parody of e4 vs d4?

I believe any resemblance is purely coincidental (or accidental ).