Barnes: Why do so many hate that opening?

Barnes is a beautiful example of how your king can become part of the attack and how castle can be overrated. So why do so many dislike it? Thoughts?

Incorrect.  Did not read any further.

Barnes is only correct if followed up by 2.g4 especially in response to 1...e6 or 1...e5

If you care to test this theory I would welcome a match against you to show you the elegant beauty of the opening. Care to be mated with it? The challenge is there.

lol...wow...

Nope.  That would be a pointless exercise as you are a much weaker player.  If I win, it is because we both played to our strengths, or because your opening is feeble.  We won't know which.  If I lose, it is because you were using an engine and I was not.  The best players in the world cannot beat the top engine from much better starting positions than White has after 1.e4 f6.

But by all means, win 30 bullet games against sub-1000 opponents and then come to the forums to show us all how great your defense is...

1. Your pride masks your fear. Pride always goes before a fall.

2. You are underrating a very excellent opening. Prove your bombast.

3. The only engine I will use will be my mind and skill. Both will prove able to over come your hubris.

The challenge stands. Unless you care to concede that Barnes is a formidable opening. I will take your lack of challenge or silence as an agreement, whatever the written reply; Talk is cheap. Playing to discover how incorrect you are will both be humbling, something you appear to need, and instructive, as you will learn how to utilize an unorthodox opening to win against a challenger who underestimates the unexpected.

I'm putting my money on the nearly 1000-point favourite.

lol

This is probably a terribly naive question, so please forgive me- ive been playing this game a little over a year and frequently I hear people talk about using a "chess engine." Exactly what does this mean in the context of competitive play?

A chess engine is an AI which plays chess at a high level. Some people cheat by using an engine to decide on their moves, thus playing better moves than they would if they thought of the moves themselves. Using engine assistance is banned online and accusations of it in serious OTB tournaments generally become big scandals.

ImmaLetchuFinnish wrote:

Barnes is a beautiful example of how your king can become part of the

Incorrect.  Did not read any further.

If you care to test this theory I would welcome a match against you

A 1000 point rating difference entitles him to hubris. If your best win was within 500 points, others might listen to you. By all means, go out and beat at least one 1300 with your opening and then challenge a 1400.

Thank you for the info. SR

ImmaLetchuFinnish wrote:

Barnes is a beautiful example of how your king can become part of the attack

Incorrect.  Did not read any further.

If you care to test this theory I would welcome a match against you to show you the elegant beauty of the opening. Care to be mated with it? The challenge is there.

I disagree. I'm particularly fond of this variation:

https://www.chess.com/opening/eco/A00_Barnes_Opening_1...e5_2.g4

Orrrr...just start at that opening and play Stockfish vs Stockfish in a match. That is completely fair since it would be equal opponents playing. If White equalizes then it is sound. If not, then it is obviously bad.

I didn't really think I was showing that much hubris.. my argument as laid out in #6 was logical.  The OP if anyone is showing hubris by making such an absurd chess claim without having any experience, evidence, or anything besides his own confidence to back it up.  And then tries to claim that I have some obligation to play him! This is Trump Logic

So far after 1. f3 the eval is -0.56 (depth = 21). This isn't looking good for White at all.

Then I guess some people could use a bit of that kind of thinking.

https://www.chess.com/members/view/timmaylivinalie

White can hope for a slight disadvantage at best, and that's if you are an engine. The practical chances for this opening in real OTB games are awful. I would not even take it up as a surprise weapon.

I personally prefer the Grob-like 2.g4 in response to Black playing From's Gambit against Bird's opening: 1.f4 e5