Durkin Opening

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
Image:chess_zhor_26.png
Image:chess_zver_26.png
a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Image:chess_zver_26.png
Image:chess_zhor_26.png

The Durkin Opening, also known as the Sodium Attack, is a very rarely played chess opening 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 probably 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.

It is named for Robert Durkin (1923-?) of New Jersey. The Sodium Attack name comes from the algebraic notation 1.Na3, as Na is the chemical symbol for the element sodium.

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[edit] References

  • Hooper, David and Kenneth Whyld. "Durkin Opening." Oxford Companion to Chess. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992. 117.
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