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What's Going on With 1. a3!?

#2

I expect we will see more 1 a3. Black is OK, so it is OK to play black as white and with an extra tempo.
a6 is useful in many black defenses. It also cuts the effort of maintaining a repertoire in half and doubles the experience with the resulting middle games and endgames.
After 1 a3 e5 2 e4 Nf6 3 Nc3, not only Ruy Lopez 3...Bb4 is impossible, but after Italian 3...Bc5 the move a3 is useful and after the Scotch 3...d5 white wins a pawn with 4 exd5 Nxd5 5 Qh5, as 5...Nb4 is impossible.
After 1 a3 c5 white can play 2 Nf3 and hope to transpose to a reverse Benkö gambit.
White can also play 1 a3 c5 2 e4 and go for a reverse wing gambit.

I expect we will see more 1 a3. Black is OK, so it is OK to play black as white and with an extra tempo. a6 is useful in many black defenses. It also cuts the effort of maintaining a repertoire in half and doubles the experience with the resulting middle games and endgames. After 1 a3 e5 2 e4 Nf6 3 Nc3, not only Ruy Lopez 3...Bb4 is impossible, but after Italian 3...Bc5 the move a3 is useful and after the Scotch 3...d5 white wins a pawn with 4 exd5 Nxd5 5 Qh5, as 5...Nb4 is impossible. After 1 a3 c5 white can play 2 Nf3 and hope to transpose to a reverse Benkö gambit. White can also play 1 a3 c5 2 e4 and go for a reverse wing gambit.
#3

@tpr said in #2:

a6 is useful in many black defenses. It also cuts the effort of maintaining a repertoire in half and doubles the experience with the resulting middle games and endgames.

This is the main value proposition, at the same time my main concern with 1. a3 in the analysis is whether black can play in a extremely solid and boring way and be totally fine. There is always the opportunity cost of giving up our chance to play with the white pieces.

@tpr said in #2: > a6 is useful in many black defenses. It also cuts the effort of maintaining a repertoire in half and doubles the experience with the resulting middle games and endgames. This is the main value proposition, at the same time my main concern with 1. a3 in the analysis is whether black can play in a extremely solid and boring way and be totally fine. There is always the opportunity cost of giving up our chance to play with the white pieces.
#4

#3
Maybe 1 a3 a6

#3 Maybe 1 a3 a6
#5

It is sometimes practical to respond to an unusual move with an even more unusual move.
Here is a game by the late GM Hort:
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2010173

It is sometimes practical to respond to an unusual move with an even more unusual move. Here is a game by the late GM Hort: https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2010173
#6

@tpr said in #2:

I expect we will see more 1 a3. Black is OK, so it is OK to play black as white and with an extra tempo.
a6 is useful in many black defenses. It also cuts the effort of maintaining a repertoire in half and doubles the experience with the resulting middle games and endgames.
After 1 a3 e5 2 e4 Nf6 3 Nc3, not only Ruy Lopez 3...Bb4 is impossible, but after Italian 3...Bc5 the move a3 is useful and after the Scotch 3...d5 white wins a pawn with 4 exd5 Nxd5 5 Qh5, as 5...Nb4 is impossible.
After 1 a3 c5 white can play 2 Nf3 and hope to transpose to a reverse Benkö gambit.
White can also play 1 a3 c5 2 e4 and go for a reverse wing gambit.

But what to do if Black responds to 1. a3! with 1. ... a6!? ?

@tpr said in #2: > I expect we will see more 1 a3. Black is OK, so it is OK to play black as white and with an extra tempo. > a6 is useful in many black defenses. It also cuts the effort of maintaining a repertoire in half and doubles the experience with the resulting middle games and endgames. > After 1 a3 e5 2 e4 Nf6 3 Nc3, not only Ruy Lopez 3...Bb4 is impossible, but after Italian 3...Bc5 the move a3 is useful and after the Scotch 3...d5 white wins a pawn with 4 exd5 Nxd5 5 Qh5, as 5...Nb4 is impossible. > After 1 a3 c5 white can play 2 Nf3 and hope to transpose to a reverse Benkö gambit. > White can also play 1 a3 c5 2 e4 and go for a reverse wing gambit. But what to do if Black responds to 1. a3! with 1. ... a6!? ?
#8

#6
Maybe 2 h3.
This is a game by the late IM Basman from the British Championship, classical time control
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1026336

#6 Maybe 2 h3. This is a game by the late IM Basman from the British Championship, classical time control https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1026336
#9

@tpr said in #8:

#6
Maybe 2 h3.
This is a game by the late IM Basman from the British Championship, classical time control
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1026336

The "creepy crawly" variation.... what an iconic name. Very tempted to try that.

@tpr said in #8: > #6 > Maybe 2 h3. > This is a game by the late IM Basman from the British Championship, classical time control > https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1026336 The "creepy crawly" variation.... what an iconic name. Very tempted to try that.