First Guide to the Sodium Attack

If, for some reason, U are obliged to play the Sodium attack 1. Na3, don't be scary, it's not as terrible as usually thought. King's Sodium 1...e5 is supposed to be the best black reply (Explorer and ChessOK).

King's Sodium (Explorer vs Explorer test opening, d=20):

1. Na3 e5 (-0.33) 2. e3 (-0.36) Nf6 (-0.42) 3. d4 (-0.25) exd4 (-0.27) 4. exd4 (-0.28) Bxa3 (-0.18) 5. bxa3 (-0.16) O-O (-0.26)

So, Explorer preferes the Reversed French Sodium 1. Na3 e5 2. e3. It doesn't seem to be really problematic for white except for doubled pawns in the a-file.

Queen's Sodium:

1. Na3 d5 2. d4 (-0.18) Bf5 (-0.22) 3. Bf4 (-0.25) a6 (-0.31) 4. e3 (-0.31) e6 (-0.22) 5. Bd3 (-0.25) Bxd3 (-0.22) 6. cxd3 (-0.21)

Well, here it transposed into the Double London system (or Double Mason attack).

Transposition to Sicilian: Kronberger variation:

1. Na3 c5 2. e4 e6 (+0.00) 3. Nf3 (-0.05) Nc6 (+0.07) 4. Bb5 (+0.02) d5 (+0.00) 5. O-O (-0.02) a6 (+0.03)

4. Bb5 connects it also with the Rossolimo attack in the Old Sicilian. Btw 5. O-O is a good gambit which may be called Durkin-Kronberger-Rossolimo gambit.

Personally I prefer calling it "Durkin's Attack", although I am reliable told that Durkin was in the process of writing a second book based upon the reference "Sodium Attack" shortly before he was believed to have died.

If you go through Durkin's games he rarely played 1.Na3 e5 2.Nc4, his preference was 2.e3, why? your guess is as good as mine. I have said a few times before I think 2.Nc4?! is a poor move because of 2...e4! intending d5. 

if there is anything to be found in playing 1.Na3, i think it lies in those who play 1...d5 in reply. Many times I have reached reverse Benoni like structures with 1.Na3 d5 2.Nf3 c5 3.c4 d4 4.e3 or 4.Ne5!?

HTH

Hadron: Thanks for your meaningful comment. I'll make a Queen's Sodium 1. Na3 d5 test a bit later today.

I've posted the Queen's Sodium variation transposing into the Double London system .

White claws his way back then rides to victory - so I call it the Sodium Clawride Attack.

Hahaha ... why not!

Since White has the first move, the development of a Piece in an early move is a slight plus over Black, even if it's a Knight foolishly moved to the edge of the board where it's potential moves are cut in half and it has no effect on the center.

The only other advantage is over weak players who don't know the principles behind opening a chess game and don't know what to do if taken far out of the books.

MickinMD: Sure, nobody speaks about the white's advantage here. The Sodium attack can be played in some special challenge games, for example.

Why is there no opening called Magnesium attack?

Cuz there is no piece named M. But there are Ammonia, Barium and Borane attacks.

Okay. What about Kryptonese attack?

LMAO it permits us to recall a bit of chemistry.

Here is my attempt at a chemical experiment:

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.Qd2 Bf5 (just making reasonable moves for black) 4.Kd1 e6 5.Kc1.

Kc1 looks almost like KCl --> so this could be the Potassium Chloride Opening, a.k.a. Lethal Injection.

Wow it becomes the Advanced Quantum Chemistry! We could defend a Ph.D. thesis soon!

Sodium Clawride or, maybe, rather Sodium Chloride ?!? It associates well with FM chuddog's Potassium Chloride !

(*laughing) Maybe we should turn to Organic Chemistry for a while... 2,2 dimethyl pentane, anyone?

I'm not a fan of 1.Na3 at all but I played around with 1.e4 c5 2.Na3. I never found a solution to 2...d5 unfortunately but otherwise wow it's not as bad as it looks.

https://chess24.com/en/read/news/savchenko-wins-nakhchivan-open-with-1-e4-c5-2-na3

aravinds_II. Well, speaking of hydrocarbons, we should start with the methane CH4. Now let's recall that's the Knight (N) in English = C (Cavalier) in French. So, it motivates us for the following definition of the French Methane attack : 

Thanks for the reference. Yes, indeed, Sicilian: Kronberger is relatively sound.