Chess Opening Theory/1. Na3

Durkin opening Sodium attack A00 Starting position 1. Na3?! · Durkin Opening White develops their knight to the edge of the board, where it has little influence on the board. This is a poor move that does little to develop White's position, at best passing the turn for Black to decide how to play. Black doesn't have to be as polite as White in eschewing the centre and can play 1...e5 or 1...d5. After 1...e5, White may choose 2. Nc4 to put pressure on the e5-pawn. History The Oxford Companion to Chess says of 1. Na3, "played in over-the-board and correspondence games by Robert Durkin (1923- ) of New Jersey, but rarely by anyone else."The Oxford Companion to Chess Hooper David Oxford University Press 1984 0-19-217540-8 Oxford 98 Whyld Kenneth Eric Schiller gave 1. Na3 the name Sodium Attack, as "Na" is the chemical symbol for sodium.Unorthodox Chess Openings Schiller Eric Cardoza Publishing 1998 0-940685-73-6 New York 420 References See also Durkin Opening fi:Shakkiaapinen/Peli/1. Ra3