a-pawn opening

Do people really open with the a-pawn as white? What would be the best way to defend this as black? Just try to gain control of the center and develop pieces as usual, or does the a-pawn moving up two squares pose a threat with the rook and knight?

After 1. a4 I usually respond e5 in hopes that they put their rook on a3.

yea thats what i thought, just take away a3 since there isnt much else for white to gain by moving to a4

I can't believe you actually considered someone playing 1 a4.

If they play 1. a4 I play e5 and then play with the board. But if they play 1. b4 to surprise me I play 1. ... a5 to surprise them.

1.a4? is just a bad move, it gives white a weakness and does nothing for development.

1.a3!? is borderline interesting - White is trying to play as if he were Black, and trying to steer the game towards reversed color openings where 1...a6 would have been a useful move for Black. E.g., after 1.a3 e5 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3 the reversed Ruy Lopez isn't possible, after 1.a3 d5 2.d4 c5 3.c3, the reversed Slav, White is already threatening to play dxc5 and b4 trying to hold on to the pawn. Still it's hard to believe that this can be any more than equal. Black should look for White openings in which ...a6 for Black is irrelevant.

If anything you should be encouraging Ra3, not preventing it! It's just about the worst place someone could stick their Rook in the opening.

a4? i'll resign

Yeah, a3 is kind of interesting, but it just gives black the initiative.  You're much better off just learning a repertoire for white. I suppose it's playable though as it's not like you have a terrible position as black! But I definitley wouldn't recomend to use it regularly, as it really is almost exactly like playing as black.

First moves with the a or h-pawns are almost always disasterous for White. It completely gives Black the initiative, and does nothing for development or control of the center. What utter nonsense.

That is an awful way to begin a game. Black can just play 1..E5 and countinue normally.

i agree that it's no good, but in that game he lost because he wasn't a good player, not because of the 1.a4 move.

is an idea behind it, but it's not a very good one, try not castling queenside, it might prove fatal if the opponent has the right piece placement to start an attack with a5,a6...

No, a4 as a first move really does nothing constructive while weakening the position. Even trying to advance the pawn to a5 and a6 early on is just stupid and wastes way too much time.

Actually a3 is acceptable as long as it is understood that you will be transposing to another opening position.

a3 simply doesn't take advantage of being white. You shouldn't be afraid to be white!

 That is a dreadful move for white.  Better to play 1.a4 the way Preston Ware played it.   A study of his games might prove helpful,

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rich thinks that bishops are better than rooks, which is just not true at all. Exchange sacrifices are made, but not in most games! That's why the rook is higher! And even if black didn't take (which he should) what did Ra3 really do for white anyway? The rook will still be exposed if he tries to move it again and it wastes way too much time.