Chess Opening Theory/1. Nh3

Ammonia Opening
a b c d e f g h
8 a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 8
7 a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7 7
6 a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6 6
5 a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 5
4 a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4 4
3 a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 3
2 a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 2
1 a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. Nh3
ECO code: A00
Parent: Starting position

1. Nh3?! · Ammonia Opening edit

The Ammonia opening is based on the chemical formula of ammonia (NH3) and the fact that ammonia, like this opening, 'stinks'. Other titles for this opening include; the Amar Opening, the Paris Opening, and Drunken Knight Opening. Chess author Tim Harding has jokingly suggested that "Amar" is an acronym for "Absolutely mad and ridiculous"; that sums up this move!

Jokes aside, this move isn’t actually bad, it just does not improve White's position. White has made an odd decision to develop the knight to a square where it has very little influence on the game (knights generally hate the edge of the board, and love the centre). As such, Black can fairly easily get an edge.

Black's responses edit

White’s choice has effectively surrendered the first move to Black. Any one of White's opening moves may be employed by Black (except, of course, 1... g5??, which loses a pawn and weakens the kingside).

Statistics edit

No statistics as 1. Nh3 occurs rarely among serious chess players.

All possible Black's moves edit

Quick
Navigation
Na6
a6
a5

b6
b5
Nc6
c6
c5

d6
d5

e6
e5
Nf6
f6
f5

g6
g5
Nh6
h6
h5

References edit

  • Eric Schiller (2002). Unorthodox Chess Openings (Second Edition ed.). Cardoza. ISBN 1-58042-072-9. {{cite book}}: |edition= has extra text (help)

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