Amar Opening

The Amar Opening (also known as Paris Opening[1], Drunken Knight Opening, or Ammonia Opening) is a chess opening defined by the move:

1. Nh3
Amar Opening
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Moves1.Nh3
ECOA00
OriginCharles Amar, Paris, 1930s
Named afterCharles Amar
ParentIrregular chess opening
Synonym(s)Paris Opening
Drunken Knight Opening
Ammonia Opening

This opening is sometimes known as the Ammonia Opening, since NH3 is the chemical formula for ammonia. The Parisian amateur Charles Amar played it in the 1930s. It was probably named by Savielly Tartakower who used both names for this opening, although the chess author Tim Harding has jokingly suggested that "Amar" is an acronym for "Absolutely mad and ridiculous".[2]

Since 1.Nh3 is considered an irregular opening, it is classified under the A00 code in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings.


Assessment

Like the Durkin Opening, White develops a knight to the edge of the board, where it does not control central squares. Black's most common reply is 1...d5 which threatens 2...Bxh3, ruining White's kingside pawn structure. White usually plays 2.g3 to prevent this, when Black can continue to occupy the center with 2...e5.

World champion Magnus Carlsen used the Amar Opening to defeat Aleksey Dreev in a game played at rapid time controls in the 2018 online PRO Chess League.[3]

Named variations

There are several named variations in the Amar Opening. The most well-known one is known as the Paris Gambit: 1.Nh3 d5 2.g3 e5 3.f4?! Bxh3 4.Bxh3 exf4. In the Paris Gambit, White allows Black a firm grip on the center, and also gives up material. Therefore, the gambit is considered dubious. The only named variation in the Paris Gambit is the Gent Gambit: 5.0-0 fxg3 6.hxg3. This variation was first played by Tartakower against Andor Lilienthal in Paris, 1933.

There is also one named subvariation in the 1...e5 variation, known as the Krazy Kat: 1.Nh3 e5 2.f3 d5 3.Nf2.

Notes
  1. Pandolfini, Bruce (1995). Chess Thinking: The Visual Dictionary of Chess Moves, Rules, Strategies and Concepts. Fireside chess library. Simon and Schuster. p. 287. ISBN 9780671795023.
  2. Winter, Edward (1996). Chess Explorations. London: Cadogan Books. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-85744-171-0.
  3. "Magnus Carlsen vs. Alexey Dreev, Pro Chess League (2018)". Chessgames.com.

General references
  • Dunnington, Angus (2000). Winning Unorthodox Openings. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1-85744-285-4.
  • Hooper, David; Whyld, Kenneth (1996). The Oxford Companion To Chess (second ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280049-3.
  • Schiller, Eric (2002). Unorthodox Chess Openings (Second ed.). Cardoza. pp. 45–46. ISBN 1-58042-072-9.
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