Durkin Opening

The Durkin Opening, also known as the Durkin Attack or the Sodium Attack, is a rarely played chess opening.

It begins with the move 1. Na3, which develops the knight to an unusual square. The opening is named after Robert T. Durkin (1923–2014) of New Jersey, who played it sporadically in the early 20th century. The name “Sodium Attack” comes from the algebraic notation 1.Na3, as Na is the chemical symbol for the element sodium.

White’s move 1.Na3 is considered to be somewhat risky, as it does not immediately develop any other pieces and can be met by various counterattacks by Black. However, the opening can also lead to some interesting and sharp positions if White plays carefully.

Main Line

1. Na3 e5

White generally aims to develop their pieces quickly and establish control of the center of the board. Black can try to create counterplay on the queenside or kingside, or they can simply try to hold the position and wait for White to make a mistake.

Variations

There are a number of different variations of the Durkin Opening, depending on Black’s response to 1.Na3. For example, if Black plays 1…e5, the game can transpose into a number of different openings, including the Queen’s Gambit Declined, the Pirc Defense, and the Sicilian Defense. Black can also play 1…Nc6, which leads to a more closed position.

Popularity

The Durkin Opening is not a very popular opening at the highest levels of chess, but it is occasionally played by grandmasters. It is more popular among amateur chess players, who appreciate its unusual and aggressive nature.

Here are some of the reasons why the Durkin Opening is not more popular:

• It is a relatively risky opening, as White’s pieces are initially somewhat isolated.
• It can lead to some very sharp and tactical positions, which can be difficult to play for both sides.
• It is not very well-tested, so there is not a lot of theoretical knowledge available to White and Black players.

Despite its drawbacks, the Durkin Opening can be a very effective opening for players who are looking for an exciting and challenging game.