Category: Opening Theory

Let’s begin the year by discussing an uncommon opening that actually goes by many alternative names. My favorite calling is the Van Geet Opening.

Gyula “Julius” Breyer was a Hungarian chess master, one of the best chess players of his time. In addition to winning the Hungarian Championship in 1912 and several other significant tournaments, he made his mark in chess history by setting a new record (in 1921) for blindfolded play, managing to compete against 25 opponents simultaneously.

Anderssen Opening, named after the renowned unofficial World Chess Champion, Adolf Anderssen, gained its moniker due to his notable usage of the opening strategy during his 1858 match against the great Paul Morphy, employing it on three separate occasions.

Although the validity of the move 2. … f5?! can be doubted, I cannot overlook one of the oldest responses to the King’s Gambit, where Black declines the offered pawn with a sacrifice of their own.

The Swiss Gambit is an opening in chess that shares a common starting sequence but has two different versions. It begins with the moves 1. f4 f5, and from there, White employs the gambit by playing 2. e4.

Black sacrifices a pawn and gives up all center pawns. In return, Black hopes to get the initiative and an attack on the kingside. The Stafford Gambit is undeniably not a strategically strong opening choice. Nevertheless, its deceptive nature makes it a compelling option, particularly in fast-paced blitz games, where it can lead to entertaining victories.

Named after Louis-Charles Mahé de La Bourdonnais, possibly the strongest player in the early 19th century, this opening is defined by the following moves: 1. e4 e6 2. f4

The Grob’s Attack is an unusual chess opening where White starts with the move 1. g4. Despite having a small group of enthusiasts, it is generally regarded as one of the weakest opening choices for White. However, it does possess an element of surprise, catching many opponents off guard and leading them to make errors due to their unfamiliarity with it.

From a technical standpoint, the move 2. f4 is considered to be slightly less strong compared to the more common 2. d4, but it is by no means a mistake. In fact, it can lead to interesting and sharp positions, catching some opponents off guard.

If you play the Latvian Gambit, you won’t be in a worse situation with this one. With its roots tracing back to the 19th century, this bold strategy has intermittently resurfaced as an unexpected weapon.