That looks bad

With perfect play on both sides, the standard chess is almost obviously drawish, no much mystery here. a3 gives up some initiative but it leads to a draw anyway.

In my opinion

- If Game of Chess = white winning, then a3 is bad opening.

- If Game of Chess = draw game, then a3 is not bad opening, just a waiting move. Transfer the color from white to black.

- If Game of chess = black winning, then a3 most likely is a good opening.

So far, no one cracked the mistery of Chess yet, but I bet Chess is a draw game. If one day we find chess is not a draw game, then the rule of chess will be changed to make chess a draw game. Fair enough? :)

rather unnecessary.....black soon controls the centre

Looks sound to me

this is a very dumb opening..

i have never lost playing against this opening..

this will help me a

lot

in the puzzle if black just takes the white pawn on move six than doesnt he promote first?

@1ndermatrix: Oh you are so right! Seriously, who could play it

Who play that !?!

Pawn structure classification code (PSCC): 3a|

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/toward-coherent-mathematical-classification-of-openings

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/principal-opening-strata-and-transitions

LOL wtf is this we are not six years old.... In an Opening you need central control and development... a3 is none of them.

genial move(!), it prepares the reversed Najdorf+1 tempo if blacks play 1...e5, and it is anti-Nimzo-Indian, anti-Semi-Slav etc. if blacks play 1...d5 or 1...Nf6. So, clearly, it's the best(!) possible opening.

???

oki

1. a3 is not so stupid as it seems, and clearly better than a4? But this is fine in a blitz game and has a shocking effect on some players. Some strong icelandic players have actually played this move. The point is that after 1. a3 d5 2. b4, Black cannot fianchetto his dark bishop so easily for example 2...Nf6 3. Bb2. But of course 1...e5 is possible and the a3 is a slow system but solid. I have only used this a couple of times for fun. I prefer 1. e4 or 1. Nf3 myself in serious games. Would someone play Na3 or Nh3?? Horrible moves then I would rather play 1. a3.

one more thing...if you worry about black black bishop then on f2...with this opening f2 is still full vulnerable.

you can stop the bishop later on...nobody will move the bishop that early...come on, let's be really serious...