The Weirdest Openings That Shouldn't Work (But Sometimes Do)
I’ve decided: I’m going to write my first purely informational blog. No clue how this will go, but I decided to try because why not? Hope you enjoy it!
Pretend you’re going to a big tournament today. You studied many tactical variations, have a nice opening repertoire, and are ready to crush any opponent you might face for that big cash prize. You sit down for the first match, and you are playing black. “That’s fine, I’ll just copy,” you say internally. Your opponent plays e4, and you play e5. “Shouldn’t be tough,” you think. Then your opponent plays 2. Ke2.
“WHAT IS THAT?! I NEVER PREPARED FOR THIS!”
Welcome to some of the weirdest and most confusing openings that shouldn’t work, but sometimes do. In this blog, I’ll show you some of the most confusing and practically useless openings that some players use to throw you off your game. Armed with this knowledge, you should be able to react to these openings appropriately and punish your opponent for playing them.
Table of Contents
3. The Latvian Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5?!)
4. The Bongcloud Attack (1. e4 e5 2. Ke2?!)
Final Thoughts: Should You Play These?
The Grob is a bizarre opening in which White pushes its kingside pawn two squares forward on the very first move. It’s considered aggressive, reckless, and, in some cases, just plain horrible.
Why It Shouldn’t Work:
This opening leaves white’s Kingside as an opportunity for attacks and tactics to punish white for playing this generally stupid opening. Black can easily counter the exposed pawn with 1…d5, opening up the bishop line to attack the pawn.
Why It Sometimes Does:
This opening was named after a trip to the zoo by Grandmaster Tartakower, the Orangutan (or Polish Opening) is a flank opening where White pushes their queenside pawn immediately, resulting in weird positions that can leave Black genuinely confused. It is also basically the opposite of the Grob.
Why it Shouldn’t Work:
It doesn’t control the center directly, allowing Black to seize the important squares immediately. White also often falls behind in development after pushing the pawn, resulting in Black gaining a space advantage and being able to place pressure on White’s position.
Why It Sometimes Does:
The Orangutan can transform into hypermodern setups where White lets Black steal control of the center and then attacks it later. Here is an example:
This opening can also lead to offbeat positions, which can be unsettling for opponents. Black may make mistakes early in the game and fall into a worse position.
3. The Latvian Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5?!)
The Latvian Gambit is an ultra-aggressive attempt to play a King’s Gambit-style attack as Black. Playing this opening is generally not a good decision, but it can be used as a weapon in faster time controls (bullet, blitz).
Why It Shouldn’t Work:
The Latvian weakens Black’s position severely, allowing White to respond with simple moves that stop the attack.
Continuation 2:
Why It Sometimes Works:
If White plays passively, Black can develop a serious attack.
It’s an excellent choice in fast time controls where defensive play for your opponent is harder Also, players unfamiliar with gambit-style openings may fall for this.
4. The Bongcloud Attack (1. e4 d5 2. Ke2?!)
And finally, the opening we started with, the infamous Bongcloud. It breaks nearly every opening principle: bringing the king out early, blocking the White’s bishop and queen, and making yourself a target for rapid checks.
Why It Shouldn’t Work:
It exposes the king and gives up any opening advantage possible. White also voluntarily loses castling rights in the first two moves, which prevents efficient development. Black can punish it with the following:
Why It Sometimes Works:
This attack gives some players a mild psychological shock—many opponents tilt after seeing it. Additionally, if the opponent is too eager to punish it, they may get cocky and blunder. Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura have also played it for fun, making it a meme-worthy weapon to use.
Final Thoughts: Should You Play These?
While these openings might not be the best for serious games, they can be great weapons in blitz, bullet, and casual play and work best especially against unprepared opponents. The element of surprise, psychology, and quick tactical opportunities can make these confusing and "bad" openings a weapon in the right hands.
Have you ever won a game with a weird gambit? Let me know your craziest chess opening experience in the comments! 
