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What is the worst opening?

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Fr3nchToastCrunch

People say g4 (grob) is the worst opening move, but I'd argue it's f3 by a long shot.

Playing f3...

- Weakens the king (g4 also does, but not nearly as much)

- Develops no pieces (g4 develops a bishop, if only a bit awkwardly)

- Doesn't even try to get center space (g4 does...kinda)

- Blocks your knight's good square (g4 does not)

- Is the only opening move considered a mistake ("?") by Stockfish (g4 is not)

jli30c

You get a fine game with the Duras. I played Stockfish Stockfish with the Duras and it ended as a draw.

Englund: Deferred Soller Gambit.

Grob sucks though.

TheBlunderMaster356

irish gambit

ea914
Bong cloud
CharlestonViennaGambit
jli30c wrote:

Damaino: Qe7 exists.

I have analysed this, and I guess that fact must be so. However, after 4. Nf3 Qxe4+ 5. Be2, I think you will find that Stockfish thinks White is winning at an advantage of +1.98.

CharlestonViennaGambit
Fr3nchToastCrunch wrote:

People say g4 (grob) is the worst opening move, but I'd argue it's f3 by a long shot.

Playing f3...

- Weakens the king (g4 also does, but not nearly as much)

- Develops no pieces (g4 develops a bishop, if only a bit awkwardly)

- Doesn't even try to get center space (g4 does...kinda)

- Blocks your knight's good square (g4 does not)

- Is the only opening move considered a mistake ("?") by Stockfish (g4 is not)

f3 may be the worst first move for White, but remember: Black has something far worse.

CharlestonViennaGambit
jli30c wrote:

You get a fine game with the Duras. I played Stockfish Stockfish with the Duras and it ended as a draw.

Englund: Deferred Soller Gambit.

Grob sucks though.

Excellent job of explaining why some openings are not bad. Now which one is the worst?

CharlestonViennaGambit
TheBlunderMaster356 wrote:

irish gambit

This is similar to the Haloween gambit, which is rated "very good" by many GMs, IM, and so on.

CharlestonViennaGambit
ea914 wrote:
Bong cloud

This is far better than openings like the Barnes Opening/defense, Fried Fox opening, and Duras Gambit. Sorry.