and white is drunk
1.a4 is not the best
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stop plz dd
this isn't for talking about white being drunk so yeah
1. a4 is quite an unorthodox move. Unlike the more well-known rare chess moves, this opening does not really start an attack early on. The pawn on a4 does not really do much, besides guarding the non-essential b5 square, and claiming some space for the Rook.
That’s not to say it is bad, but it is surely not the best starting move.
I’ve heard about a line called the Meadow Hay Trap, which goes 1. a4 e5 2. Ra3,
gambiting the Rook for Black’s dark square Bishop. There may be a very brief advantage for White here, since the Queenside Rook is not very useful at the start of the game, it may not be so bad to trade it for Black’s active Bishop at the start. But this gambit will likely lead to defeat in the Mid-game or Endgame due to material loss. A rook becomes very powerful in the Mid/End-game.
Unlike what the name suggests, there does not appear to be a trap in this line.
* * *
Crab Variation is another honorable mention. But it is likely played jokingly.
1. a4 e5 2. h4
With the pinchers threatening b5 and g5 respectively, Black has to use only mild caution when facing this opening. White, on the other hand, will likely struggle at finding a safe spot for the King, as well as finding a way to keep the enemy Bishops at bay.
* * *
The Potato can also be transposed to if Black responds 1...d5.
1. a4 d5 Nf3
I don’t know too much about this variation, but I would assume that it is kind of like a reversed Indian Game with a pawn on a4.
【tl;dr. It’s probably not the best opening.】
That’s not to say it is bad, but it is surely not the best starting move.
I’ve heard about a line called the Meadow Hay Trap, which goes 1. a4 e5 2. Ra3,
gambiting the Rook for Black’s dark square Bishop. There may be a very brief advantage for White here, since the Queenside Rook is not very useful at the start of the game, it may not be so bad to trade it for Black’s active Bishop at the start. But this gambit will likely lead to defeat in the Mid-game or Endgame due to material loss. A rook becomes very powerful in the Mid/End-game.
Unlike what the name suggests, there does not appear to be a trap in this line.
* * *
Crab Variation is another honorable mention. But it is likely played jokingly.
1. a4 e5 2. h4
With the pinchers threatening b5 and g5 respectively, Black has to use only mild caution when facing this opening. White, on the other hand, will likely struggle at finding a safe spot for the King, as well as finding a way to keep the enemy Bishops at bay.
* * *
The Potato can also be transposed to if Black responds 1...d5.
1. a4 d5 Nf3
I don’t know too much about this variation, but I would assume that it is kind of like a reversed Indian Game with a pawn on a4.
【tl;dr. It’s probably not the best opening.】
Why did you spend that much time writing that
a4 sucks it's that simple xD
Unusual starting moves have always fascinated me, Duncan. I love topics like these! =D
A3 is obviously the best.
PUSH HARRY THE h pawn
Well, Magnus, in some of his games have pushed the a pawn and still won.
I prefer g4.
ChessieSystem101 wrote:
A3 is obviously the best.
YES
GM_chess_player wrote:
Well, Magnus, in some of his games have pushed the a pawn and still won.
well, he's the world champion, duh!
Jul 23, 2019
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#15
We know a4 is a dubious move. If you want to play a good move, dozens of years of practice shows that 1. g4!! already forces a win for white.
Jun 19, 2020
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#16
WCCC44SF: World Championship Correspondence Chess 44 Semi Final
SIM: Senior International Master (a title that doesn´t exist in OTB).
Jun 19, 2020
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#17
Anderssen's Opening (1. a3) makes more sense than the Lolwut Opening (1. a4), since 1. a3 can lead you into a number of favorable colors-reversed openings with an extra tempo... a reversed Benko Gambit, for example, or a reversed Sicilian Defense.
Jun 20, 2020
0
#18
Right. Plus playing an initial a4 is like putting a target mark on the b4 square. Sure, there are lots of positions where a2-a4 will be a useful move, but there are also a lot where it's a weakening move, so why give Black full scope from the beginning to aim for the latter?
Or, to put it another way, by playing a4, you're pretty nearly committing to not playing c4 any time soon, assuming you don't like having a knight or bishop digging in on b4, with no way to eliminate it. c4 is a move that's useful in a whole lot of openings, and you've just taken it off the table.
and black is ok