Makes you wonder how nuts these people around here are when they will play f3 kf2 against a GM
Hammerschlag Opening (Fried Fox/Pork Chop)

Makes you wonder how nuts these people around here are when they will play f3 kf2 against a GM



And to further my point... I'm now above 1400 and still winning games with it. In fact, I've lost very few to it.

In the database of games on 365chess.com I see players rated as high as 2400 using this opening against a smilarly rated player. Not many, though. I followed some games, and my conclusion is that if other moves are good, you do not lose immediately, and sometimes you even win. However, one mistake and you are done.

This (Hammerschlag) is not a bad opening but it is not an opening for someone that does not know what they are doing...meaning you should be rated really high (be very good) to play it. I believe it has never been completely studied so when you play the opening, you are pretty much on your own from the get go. At most, it's been studied very little and there has not been much actually analysis done about it.
Thomas Wilson Barnes played this opening versus the great Paul Morphy and beat him. I believe that f3, and or f6 is called Barnes Opening; if followed by Kf2, it's the Hammerschlag. I have played this opening before (back when I did not want to learn openings) and managed to win with it, but only because my opponents made mistakes.
This (Hammerschlag) is not a bad opening but it is not an opening for someone that does not know what they are doing...meaning you should be rated really high (be very good) to play it. I believe it has never been completely studied so when you play the opening, you are pretty much on your own from the get go. At most, it's been studied very little and there has not been much actually analysis done about it.
Thomas Wilson Barnes played this opening versus the great Paul Morphy and beat him. I believe that f3, and or f6 is called Barnes Opening; if followed by Kf2, it's the Hammerschlag. I have played this opening before (back when I did not want to learn openings) and managed to win with it, but only because my opponents made mistakes.
Of course it's a bad opening.
It develops nothing, makes no central claim, nor attempt to control the center, weakens the kingside, drastically reduces white's options, and loses time almost no matter what black plays. It's the very definition of a bad opening.
Naturally, anyone can play whatever they like. And of course, the game of chess is so complex that overcoming a bad opening is something that can be done with careful play and a little luck.
But we really don't need lists of pros and cons here. There are no pros, apart from, "I like to play this way." Which is a fine pro, indeed. But arguing this opening isn't objectively poor is like arguing the bishop doesn't move diagonally.

This (Hammerschlag) is not a bad opening but it is not an opening for someone that does not know what they are doing...meaning you should be rated really high (be very good) to play it. I believe it has never been completely studied so when you play the opening, you are pretty much on your own from the get go. At most, it's been studied very little and there has not been much actually analysis done about it.
Thomas Wilson Barnes played this opening versus the great Paul Morphy and beat him. I believe that f3, and or f6 is called Barnes Opening; if followed by Kf2, it's the Hammerschlag. I have played this opening before (back when I did not want to learn openings) and managed to win with it, but only because my opponents made mistakes.
Of course it's a bad opening.
It develops nothing, makes no central claim, nor attempt to control the center, weakens the kingside, drastically reduces white's options, and loses time almost no matter what black plays. It's the very definition of a bad opening.
Naturally, anyone can play whatever they like. And of course, the game of chess is so complex that overcoming a bad opening is something that can be done with careful play and a little luck.
But we really don't need lists of pros and cons here. There are no pros, apart from, "I like to play this way." Which is a fine pro, indeed. But arguing this opening isn't objectively poor is like arguing the bishop doesn't move diagonally.
Have you seen/studied the games of Thomas Wilson Barnes vs Paul Morphy? I suggest you take a look at the games. I think this opening is not for novices or even mid-level players, as it does give Black the inititive, which most non GMs can give up and win.
Paul Morphy was one of the best there ever was in the history of the game. I read somewhere, it was mainly rumor, that Fischer (when he was still alive) was playing on the net and that he was playing Blitz versus GMs (I believe versus a strong GM, I forget who)...the thing is, nobody could prove it. Anyway, the opening used by this so called "Fischer" was the Hammerschlag, and soundly beating this strong GM. The GM was first unsure who he was playing, but after a while, he believed that it was Fischer (again, there's no proof ot it though).

Surely if you have to move the king, it should be in the Bongcloud Opening.
1.f3 e5 2.e4 Nf6 3.Ke2! d5 4.d3 transposes to the Bongcloud Fortress Variation.
I think it was Kasparov who said that there are two types of opening, those which have been played in WC matches and those which haven't. In my opinion it's even more important for mediocre players to play solid openings, because generally we aren't good enough to understand the positional ideas behind strange openings.
Plus, if black plays sensibly against 1. f3 2. Kf2 he will easily secure an advantage. Just control the centre and develop normally, that is all that is required to refute these kind of moves.
Hello there, (see example in my blogs)
I would like some study material for this opening, but there is very less known about it. The Hammerschlag goes like 1 F3 .... 2 KF2, but can be played as black too offcourse. I have played it regulary and it's in fact not a very bad opening. Someone suggested that is was only usefull against <1200 players which I think is not true. Check out my other Blog |Hammerschlag In Play| to see a game played using it.
pro's and cons on this opening imho
+ with 1.. F3 your opponent thinks you're a newbie and tries the mate in 2
+ with 2.. KF2 your opponent thinks you're gone mad
+ this opening controls the center
+ the king is more active
+ it's more safe then you think it is
+ my chesscomputer's database tells me that it is a good kriegspiel move and a joke in real chess, but beats itself from a setup position playing it against a correct 1.D4 ... and 2.E4 ... center opening by white.
- it looks weird from the other side
If you are half-way decent at chess in general.. then this is an excellent move to befuddle the most dominant players. Also, it puts alot more excitement into the game from the get-go, then the boring king or queen's pawn games. Give me your thoughts and opinions, and if you'd like to see it in action, I'd be glad to play you.