Durkin Opening

a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Moves	1. Na3
ECO	A00
Parent	Irregular chess opening
Synonym(s)	Durkin's Attack, Sodium Attack
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The Durkin Opening, also known as Durkin's Attack, or the Sodium Attack, is a very rarely played chess opening beginning with the move:

1. Na3

This awkward development of the queen's knight does little to utilize White's advantage of the first move. From a3 the knight does not influence the center or possess much activity. It is likely that White will move this knight again soon, perhaps by playing c4 and either recapturing on c4 (e.g. 1...d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nxc4) or playing Nc2. If this is White's plan it is stronger to play c4 on the first move (the English Opening). As such, this opening is probably most valuable as a way to avoid opening preparation. On the other hand there are better ways to avoid most people's opening preparation, for example by developing/relocating the b1 knight to c3.

It is named for Robert Durkin (1923-?) of New Jersey. The name "Sodium Attack" comes from the algebraic notation 1. Na3, as Na is the chemical symbol for the element sodium.

Named Variations

The Durkin Opening has several named variations. Durkin's Gambit is characterized by 1... e5 2. Nc4 Nc6 3. e4 f5. The Celadon Variation continues 1... e5 2. d3 Bxa3 3. bxa3 d5 4. e3 c5 5. Rb1.

See also

• List of chess openings
• List of chess openings named after people

References

• Hooper, David and Kenneth Whyld. "Durkin Opening." Oxford Companion to Chess. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992. 117.
• Dunnington, Angus (2000). Winning Unorthodox Openings. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1857442854 
• Eric Schiller (2002). Unorthodox Chess Openings (Second ed.). Cardoza. ISBN 1-58042-072-9.  p. 454