I have been testing out the opening 1. a4 as white, my last 4 games as white playing this opening I managed to get 3 wins and 1 loss.
The idea behind this opening is that it threatens early Rook access to the board, and forces your opponent to play 1. ..e5 to prevent that. It also threatens eventually pushing that pawn down the board. I personally have been countering with 2. d4 usually leading to a game where my queen-side major pieces are very active and my king-side pieces wait around for a while.
Most sites I find regarding this opening are that since it doesn't do much for white, it isn't really seen. But at the same time, it can be looked at as letting your opponent make the first attempt to control the center and you respond, reversing the usual openings, difference being you have that a4 pawn.
Could this be a viable opening or does doing so make white much weaker somehow?
I don't think that 1..e5's primary purpose is to prevent your rook entrance or that it is forced. Its main purpose is simply to take over the control of central squares that you have neglected.
Look at this position from a recent game of yours:
You were losing already. The computer thinks you are already a piece down. 9..O-O was the best response.
But your opponent blundered. 9..b6 is a blunder. 10..h6 is another blunder. 11..Qd7 is a third.
The fact that your opponent blundered three times to give you your piece back doesn't prove your opening was any good.
I have been testing out the opening 1. a4 as white, my last 4 games as white playing this opening I managed to get 3 wins and 1 loss.
The idea behind this opening is that it threatens early Rook access to the board, and forces your opponent to play 1. ..e5 to prevent that. It also threatens eventually pushing that pawn down the board. I personally have been countering with 2. d4 usually leading to a game where my queen-side major pieces are very active and my king-side pieces wait around for a while.
Most sites I find regarding this opening are that since it doesn't do much for white, it isn't really seen. But at the same time, it can be looked at as letting your opponent make the first attempt to control the center and you respond, reversing the usual openings, difference being you have that a4 pawn.
Could this be a viable opening or does doing so make white much weaker somehow?