Durkin Opening
Encyclopedia
The Durkin Opening, also known as Durkin's Attack, or the Sodium Attack, is a very rarely played chess opening
beginning with the move:
This awkward development of the queen's knight does little to utilize White's advantage of the first move. From a3 the knight does not influence the center or possess much activity. It is likely that White will move this knight again soon, perhaps by playing c4 and either recapturing on c4 (e.g. 1...d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nxc4) or playing Nc2. If this is White's plan it is stronger to play c4 on the first move (the English Opening
). As such, this opening is probably most valuable as a way to avoid opening preparation. On the other hand there are better ways to avoid most people's opening preparation, for example by developing/relocating the b1 knight to c3.
It is named for Robert Durkin (1923-?) of New Jersey
.
The name "Sodium Attack" comes from the algebraic notation 1. Na3, as Na is the chemical symbol
for the element sodium
.
The Celadon Variation continues 1... e5 2. d3 Bxa3 3. bxa3 d5 4. e3 c5 5. Rb1.
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...
beginning with the move:
- 1. Na3
This awkward development of the queen's knight does little to utilize White's advantage of the first move. From a3 the knight does not influence the center or possess much activity. It is likely that White will move this knight again soon, perhaps by playing c4 and either recapturing on c4 (e.g. 1...d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nxc4) or playing Nc2. If this is White's plan it is stronger to play c4 on the first move (the English Opening
English Opening
In chess, the English Opening is the opening where White begins:A flank opening, it is the fourth most popular and, according to various databases, anywhere from one of the two most successful to the fourth most successful of White's twenty possible first moves. White begins the fight for the...
). As such, this opening is probably most valuable as a way to avoid opening preparation. On the other hand there are better ways to avoid most people's opening preparation, for example by developing/relocating the b1 knight to c3.
It is named for Robert Durkin (1923-?) of New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
The name "Sodium Attack" comes from the algebraic notation 1. Na3, as Na is the chemical symbol
Chemical symbol
A chemical symbol is a 1- or 2-letter internationally agreed code for a chemical element, usually derived from the name of the element, often in Latin. Only the first letter is capitalised...
for the element sodium
Sodium
Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal and is a member of the alkali metals; its only stable isotope is 23Na. It is an abundant element that exists in numerous minerals, most commonly as sodium chloride...
.
Named Variations
The Durkin Opening has several named variations. Durkin's Gambit is characterized by 1... e5 2. Nc4 Nc6 3. e4 f5.The Celadon Variation continues 1... e5 2. d3 Bxa3 3. bxa3 d5 4. e3 c5 5. Rb1.