most obviously refuted opening is the Damiano
Most unsound opening?
My first thoughts included the Grob and the French (obviously in the same caliber lol)
Then I saw your profile picture, and I am going to have to go with the Coca-Cola Gambit. 1. g4 g5 2. f4
It's just a poor version of the king's gambit.
most obviously refuted opening is the Damiano
I have seen some people get away with it by playing Qe7 after the knight "sacrifice" But it's really just a pawn down position.
most obviously refuted opening is the Damiano
I have seen some people get away with it by playing Qe7 after the knight "sacrifice" But it's really just a pawn down position.
Well yeah, they have the possibility to not give away their game on the spot
Some are meme, some are claimed to be refuted. A few would possibly be both, or are simply and plainly bad openings.
In your opinion, what is the most unsound opening?
(Polemical choices strongly encouraged)
One of the most notoriously unsound openings in chess is the Halloween Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5?!). This aggressive gambit sacrifices a knight early on in exchange for a quick play attack, aiming to catch opponents off guard and gain a rapid development advantage. However, it's widely regarded as unsound at higher levels of play due to its dubious nature and the fact that skilled opponents can often refute it with precise play.
Most unsound opening with a well-known name (and even a Wikipedia page) that comes to mind is the Irish Gambit 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nxe5??
I think there are also a few lines within the King's Gambit that have a name but lose by force. For example the Australian Gambit
The Englund Gambit.
If white likes theory and sharp positions, they can memorize the winning line – it's basically just one line, maybe 5.
If white doesn't like theory, white can play the simple defusing line 1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 Qe7 4. Nc3 Nxe5 5. e4 . White is not only better there, but also it's a fairly boring rather than sharp position.
And if for some reason white doesn't like either of those options, there are even more ambitious ways to give back the pawn but get an attack immediately.
So the only people against which the Englund works are people who have not learned theory / are not great calculators but who still enter the ultra-sharp mainllne.
My first thoughts included the Grob and the French (obviously in the same caliber lol)
Then I saw your profile picture, and I am going to have to go with the Coca-Cola Gambit. 1. g4 g5 2. f4
It's just a poor version of the king's gambit.
The French is not unsound.
SMH!
Some are meme, some are claimed to be refuted. A few would possibly be both, or are simply and plainly bad openings.
In your opinion, what is the most unsound opening?
(Polemical choices strongly encouraged)
One of the most notoriously unsound openings in chess is the Halloween Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nxe5?!). This aggressive gambit sacrifices a knight early on in exchange for a quick play attack, aiming to catch opponents off guard and gain a rapid development advantage. However, it's widely regarded as unsound at higher levels of play due to its dubious nature and the fact that skilled opponents can often refute it with precise play.
The halloween is perfectly playable. There is a complete analysis on https://halloweengambit.jouwweb.be/
The Englund Gambit.
If white likes theory and sharp positions, they can memorize the winning line – it's basically just one line, maybe 5.
If white doesn't like theory, white can play the simple defusing line 1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 Qe7 4. Nc3 Nxe5 5. e4 . White is not only better there, but also it's a fairly boring rather than sharp position.
And if for some reason white doesn't like either of those options, there are even more ambitious ways to give back the pawn but get an attack immediately.
So the only people against which the Englund works are people who have not learned theory / are not great calculators but who still enter the ultra-sharp mainllne.
My favorite gambit is the Englund by far. It's a really smooth way to dodge the queen's gambit and to keep the game interesting.
To be fair your argument is quite valid, it can give white a lot of bigger advantages. Although being a lower rated player, I find it works pretty well. (and more importantly I enjoy it)
Some are meme, some are claimed to be refuted. A few would possibly be both, or are simply and plainly bad openings.
In your opinion, what is the most unsound opening?
(Polemical choices strongly encouraged)