Amar Opening
Encyclopedia
The Amar Opening, Paris Opening, Drunken Knight Opening, or Ammonia Opening is a chess opening
defined by the move
This opening is sometimes known as the Ammonia Opening, since NH3 is the chemical formula for ammonia
. The Paris
ian amateur
Charles Amar played it in the 1930s. It was probably named by Tartakower who used both names for this opening, although the chess author Tim Harding
has jokingly suggested that "Amar" is an acronym for "Absolutely mad and ridiculous" .
Like the Durkin Opening
, white develops a knight
to a rim square without having much reason to do so, and such a development is quite awkward. (One of Siegbert Tarrasch
's proverb
s is "A knight on the rim is dim".) Nevertheless, developing the king's knight prepares kingside castling
, and therefore 1.Nh3 is a more common move than 1.Na3. Since 1.Nh3 is considered an irregular opening, it is classified under the A00 code in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings
.
Black's most common reply is 1...d5 which threatens 2...Bxh3, ruining White's kingside pawn
structure. White usually plays 2.g3 to prevent this, and black can then take a grip of the center with 2...e5.
1. Nh3 d5
2. g3 e5
3. f4? Bxh3
4. Bxh3 exf4
In the Paris Gambit, White allows Black a firm grip on the center, and also gives up material. Therefore, the gambit is considered extremely dubious. The only named variation in the Paris Gambit is known as the Grant Gambit:
5. 0-0 fxg3
6. hxg3.
This variation was first played by Savielly Tartakower
against Andor Lilienthal
in Paris, 1933.
There is also one named variation in the 1... e5 variation, known as the Krazy Kat.
1. Nh3 e5
2. f3 d5
3. Nf2
Chess opening
A chess opening is the group of initial moves of a chess game. Recognized sequences of opening moves are referred to as openings as initiated by White or defenses, as created in reply by Black. There are many dozens of different openings, and hundreds of named variants. The Oxford Companion to...
defined by the move
- 1. Nh3
This opening is sometimes known as the Ammonia Opening, since NH3 is the chemical formula for ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
. The Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
ian amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
Charles Amar played it in the 1930s. It was probably named by Tartakower who used both names for this opening, although the chess author Tim Harding
Tim Harding (chess)
Timothy David Harding is a prolific chess player and author with particular expertise regarding correspondence chess. He published a correspondence chess magazine Chess Mail from 1996 to 2006 and has authored "The Kibitzer," a ChessCafe.com column from 1996...
has jokingly suggested that "Amar" is an acronym for "Absolutely mad and ridiculous" .
Like the Durkin Opening
Durkin Opening
The Durkin Opening, also known as Durkin's Attack, or the Sodium Attack, is a very rarely played chess opening beginning with the move:...
, white develops a knight
Knight (chess)
The knight is a piece in the game of chess, representing a knight . It is normally represented by a horse's head and neck. Each player starts with two knights, which begin on the row closest to the player, one square from the corner...
to a rim square without having much reason to do so, and such a development is quite awkward. (One of Siegbert Tarrasch
Siegbert Tarrasch
Siegbert Tarrasch was one of the strongest chess players and most influential chess teachers of the late 19th century and early 20th century....
's proverb
Proverb
A proverb is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim...
s is "A knight on the rim is dim".) Nevertheless, developing the king's knight prepares kingside castling
Castling
Castling is a special move in the game of chess involving the king and either of the original rooks of the same color. It is the only move in chess in which a player moves two pieces at the same time. Castling consists of moving the king two squares towards a rook on the player's first rank, then...
, and therefore 1.Nh3 is a more common move than 1.Na3. Since 1.Nh3 is considered an irregular opening, it is classified under the A00 code in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings
Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings
The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings is a classification system for the opening moves in a game of chess. It is presented as a five volume book collection describing chess openings...
.
Black's most common reply is 1...d5 which threatens 2...Bxh3, ruining White's kingside pawn
Pawn (chess)
The pawn is the most numerous and weakest piece in the game of chess, historically representing infantry, or more particularly armed peasants or pikemen. Each player begins the game with eight pawns, one on each square of the rank immediately in front of the other pieces...
structure. White usually plays 2.g3 to prevent this, and black can then take a grip of the center with 2...e5.
Named variations
There are several named variations in the Amar Opening. The most well known one is known as the Paris Gambit:1. Nh3 d5
2. g3 e5
3. f4? Bxh3
4. Bxh3 exf4
In the Paris Gambit, White allows Black a firm grip on the center, and also gives up material. Therefore, the gambit is considered extremely dubious. The only named variation in the Paris Gambit is known as the Grant Gambit:
5. 0-0 fxg3
6. hxg3.
This variation was first played by Savielly Tartakower
Savielly Tartakower
Ksawery Tartakower was a leading Polish and French chess Grandmaster. He was also a leading chess journalist of the 1920s and 30s...
against Andor Lilienthal
Andor Lilienthal
Andor Arnoldovich Lilienthal was a Hungarian and Soviet chess Grandmaster. In his long career, he played against ten male and female world champions, beating Emanuel Lasker, José Raúl Capablanca, Alexander Alekhine, Max Euwe, Mikhail Botvinnik, Vasily Smyslov, and Vera Menchik...
in Paris, 1933.
There is also one named variation in the 1... e5 variation, known as the Krazy Kat.
1. Nh3 e5
2. f3 d5
3. Nf2