Van't Kruijs Opening
The Van 't Kruijs is an irregular opening for White. This opening is not very popular among grandmasters since it's somewhat passive and offers no particular advantage over more established openings.
History Of The Van 't Kruijs Opening
The Van 't Kruijs opening is named after the Dutch chess master Maarten van 't Kruijs (1813–1885). (Note: In Dutch names, 't is a contraction for the.) The opening never gained traction and is rarely seen at elite-level chess.
Starting Position
The Van 't Kruijs opening is defined by White's 1.e3. White's first move opens lines for the light-squared bishop and the queen while also making a modest claim of the center.
Unlike other first moves, 1.e3 is less committal and can transpose to several other openings. Because of this, the Van 't Kruijs might appeal to some players who want to surprise their opponents.
Pros
It's not a common opening, so you can surprise your opponent.
It can be a good fit if you like to catch your opponent by surprise with transpositions.
Cons
It's a passive system.
It gives Black a chance to play in many different ways.
Main Variations Of The Van 't Kruijs Opening
The Van 't Kruijs is not an opening with much independent value since White plays d2-d3 in many different openings. White's first move, however, does give Black the chance to choose among many opening systems.
Below, you can learn more about Black's three most popular responses:
1...d5
Black's most popular response is 1...d5, immediately placing a pawn in the center. Black's other option of a central pawn move, 1...e5, would then transpose to a reversed French position where White is a tempo up.
1...Nf6
Black's second most popular move is 1...Nf6, developing a kingside minor piece and refraining from moving a central pawn. Play can transpose to many openings like the Reti, the Bird, the Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, and more.
1...g6
Another popular response for Black is 1...g6. Black prepares to fianchetto their dark-squared bishop on g6. Black's idea is to take advantage of White's 1.e3 move since the pawn usually belongs on d4 against fianchetto systems.