What is the worst opening?

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)

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.

irish gambit

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.

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

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

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

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

I think Barnes (f3)