A flank opening in chess is a strategy employed by White, characterized by focusing on one or both sides of the board, away from the central d and e files. In this approach, White adopts a hypermodern style, opting to attack the center with pieces rather than occupying it with pawns. While certain flank openings are frequently used, they are more commonly embraced by experienced players rather than beginners.
Flank openings in chess vary widely in strength, and not all of them can be considered potent. In fact, some of these openings may be deemed dubious or even perilous. I attempted to compile a list of such openings, categorized based on their level of seriousness or reliability:
- c4 (English Opening)
- ♘f3 (Réti Opening)
- ♘c3 (Van Geet Opening)
- g3 (King’s Fianchetto Opening)
- f4 (Bird’s Opening)
- b3 (Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack)
- b4 (Polish Opening)
- c3 (Saragosa Opening)
- a3 (Anderssen Opening)
- a4 (Ware Opening)
- h3 (Clemenz Opening)
- h4 (Kádas Opening)
- g4 (Grob Opening)
- ♘h3 (Amar Opening)
- ♘a3 (Sodium Attack)
- f3 (Barnes Opening)
Based on the list, the first seven openings can be regarded as safe choices to employ against opponents of any skill level. However, when facing a grandmaster, it would be prudent to exercise caution and carefully consider alternatives, except for the first two openings which appear to be more suitable for such high-level play.
Regarding the remaining openings on the list, they can be utilized effectively as occasional surprise weapons in blitz games. However, to make the most of them, it is essential to be well-prepared and familiar with some key lines, as this will enable you to catch your opponent off-guard and capitalize on the element of surprise.
I strongly advise against playing the Barnes Opening (1. f3) under any circumstances. This opening is highly discouraged as it rarely leads to favorable outcomes and tends to yield unfavorable positions for the player adopting it.
We have already published articles covering the Polish Opening (also known as Orangutan), the Bird’s Opening, and the Grob Opening (TODO: article link). Moving forward, I intend to write about the remaining openings in the future, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all the topics in due course.