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Bizarre opening

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Mr_Wibbles

Here's the strangest opening i've yet seen.  Although it disregarded all the opening principles I was following, I still struggled for a while with the lack of space for my developed pieces to go to.  I managed to pick up a couple of extra pawns during the match, but the win was down to a blunder my opponent made towards the end rather than his opening.

 

Based on the opening principles and the fact it's never played, i'm assuming it must be a bad opening.  What should I have done early on to crack it?

BruiserMac
Looked like the Hippopotamus Openeing...
theCandyman
I probably would have played 8. ... g5 before I castled. Also, I try tofienchetto in the opposite corner if my opponent does and the opportunity presents itself.
glubsch
Oh, I know who the other player was. I once played against him, too Smile
Ricardo_Morro
I like 4. ... e4. You need to exploit his weak white square complex early. If he wants to waste pawn moves driving your knight to a better square in the center, let him (instead of wasting time with a side pawn move to stop him). If he leaves the hole at d3, occupy it, even if a trade leaves you with an isolated pawn up there. As long as you can defend it, it will be a bone in his throat, hindering his development.
Loomis

When you have a lead in development you should try to open the position. This is done by pawn exchanges.

 

8. ... Re8 threatens to play d4 next where a central file will open up.

 

9. ... f5 looks better than retreating the knight.

 

14. ... f5 planning to play f4 is an attempt to open lines.

 

When you're better developed you must create open lines for your developed pieces to use.