Chess Opening Theory/1. a3/1...e5/2. b3/2...d5/3. c3/3...Nf6/4. d3/4...Nc6/5. e3/5...Bd6/6. f3/6...O-O/7. g3

Anderssen's Opening: Hippopotamus Attack rd bd qd rd kd pd pd pd pd pd pd nd bd nd pd pd pl pl pl pl pl pl pl pl rl nl bl ql kl bl nl rl A00 Anderssen's Opening → 1...e5 → 2. b3 → 2...d5 → 3. c3 → 3...Nf6 → 4. d3 → 4...Nc6 → 5. e3 → 5...Bd6 → 6. f3 → 6...O-O Hippopotamus Attack White opens the game with a misguided swarm of one-square pawn pushes. However, if Black is not careful, then this barricade of pawns may impede Black's plans. White's pawn structure inhibits the natural development squares for the knights. In addition, White's king becomes more vulnerable after a potential pawn storm on the kingside, and none of White's pieces can be developed easily lest White pushes a pawn forward, opening up the position. There exists a variation of White's moves with 1. a3 g6 2. b3 Bg7 3. c3 d5 4. d3 c5 5. e3 e5 6. f3 Ne7 7. g3 Nbc6In Schiller's Unorthodox Chess Openings, it is named the Hippopotamus Formation. where Black chooses to maintain an iron grip over the d4-square while freeing the f-pawn to potentially explore pawn breaks on the kingside. Theory table 0 7...e4! 8. dxe4 dxe4 9. f4 Ne7 10. Bg2 Nf5 11. Ne2 -- 7... ... 8. fxe4 dxe4 9. d4 Ne7 10. Bg2 Nf5 11. Ra2!? -- References See also Eric Schiller 2002 2nd Unorthodox Chess Openings Cardoza 1-58042-072-9