Skip to content
TheChessWorld.com
TheChessWorld Facebook TheChessWorld Twitter TheChessWorld Pinterest TheChessWorld YouTube
  • Start Here
  • Play
  • Learn
    • Training Techniques
    • Openings
    • Middlegame
    • Endgames
    • General Information
  • Tournaments
  • Academy
  • 21-Day Course
  • Store
    • TheChessWorld
    • TCW Academy
    • Chess-Teacher
    • Modern Chess
    • Roman Chess Lab
    • Foxy Chess
    • Grandmaster Magazine
    • ChessLecture
    • ICC
    • Rules Chess Strategies
    • Others
  • Contact
TheChessWorld.com
Close

Openings in chess – 5 most unusual openings played by Grandmasters

WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
WGM Raluca Sgîrcea, IM Renier Castellanos
08.05.2016
Category: Openings
Tags: chess, openings, strange
Openings in chess – 5 most unusual openings played by Grandmasters

Openings played by Grandmasters: Modern chess has become a sport of not only skills but also knowledge and memory. It has always been like this, but since the irruption of computers in our game, memorization has become more important than it used to be.

Today, many players are victims of too much computer use; they learn the openings by heart, following their predecessor’s footsteps without questioning during the opening phase of the game. The main drawback of this approach is that creativity in the opening nowadays is lost. It costs more and more to be an original player, although some still try!

In this article, we are going to have a look at the past and see the most creative ideas in the opening that Grandmasters have employed. The idea is to give you a fresh look and see that it is possible to win games by playing rarities and taking your opponents far from their book. It’s a matter of mindset, taking risks, and leaving fears aside.

Openings played by Grandmasters – Part 1

Needless to say that some of the lines you will see below have a bad reputation according to modern theory, not without reason. However, the main point of playing original and being creative is to take the game far from that opening theory!

Zviaginsev’s 2.Na3 against the Sicilian

Grandmasters

It may have started as a joke, but the move 2.Na3 escalated quickly among chess players. Technically, it is not a novelty by Vadim Zviaginsev, but he was the first Grandmaster to play it, winning a game against Khalifman. It is said that Khalifman actually laughed at the board when he saw his opponent play 2.Na3.

Ready to start systematic training that actually works?

start chess training

Click here to start your training using the day-by-day program.

Ever since this game was played, 2.Na3 became very popular, and super strong players such as Malakhov, Sasikiran, and Shabalov, to name a few, started using it as well. Nowadays, this move has to be taken seriously, just as any anti-Sicilian. See the game here:

 

Tony Miles’ unforgettable 1…a6!?

openings

Probably every chess aficionado has this game in their memory, no matter if they recall or not the moves played later on. Everyone knows that Miles beat Anatoly Karpov with 1…a6 against 1.e4. The idea is pretty simple – black wants to play b5, Bb7, followed by e6 and c5, with a Sicilian type of position. It is obvious that white has more than just one road to an advantage, but the game can’t be decided in the opening and it is a middlegame battle. Miles won the game and never again played 1…a6. See it here:

 

Mihai Suba’s 3…Qe7 against the Ruy Lopez

Grandmasters

Grandmasters – Part 2

The Ruy Lopez is by far white’s most popular weapon against 1…e5. It is hard to imagine that black can sidestep the beaten path of years and years of practice in this opening. However, the Romanian GM Mihai Suba played 3…Qe7 from time to time with reasonable results. Black’s idea is to play 4…Nd8 followed by c6 / d6 / with a sort of Philidor / Pirc defense. Just a few days ago Suba played this opening and won a very nice game.


Kovalenko’s 2.Be2 against the Sicilian

openings

In 2015 Kovalenko won the strong Najdorf Memorial employing the move 2.Be2 against the Sicilian defense. The plan was to continue with f4-Nf3-d3 and so on, depending on black’s setup. This plan was known before, however by a different move order, 2.d3 or 2.f4.

Tarrasch’s 3…Qa5 in the Alapin

Grandmasters

The idea of Qa5 against the Alapin belongs to Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch who won a game against Simon Alapin in Vienna in 1898. Black breaks the opening principles in order to interfere with white’s immediate intentions of playing d4. Several Grandmasters have employed this move in tournament practice; the strong Sergei Movsesian is one of them, but the legendary Oleg Romanishin has also used it in his games. Of course, Qa5 has a very dubious reputation, but for a rapid game or an unprepared opponent, it is still a playable choice. See the following game:


Openings in chess – Conclusion

We hope you have enjoyed this article and learned something new from the games above. We don’t recommend any of these lines; we’re just showing the variety of choices and surprise weapons that can be used depending on the scenario.

If you want to improve your chess level, you need to have a clear study plan. If you aim for a dramatic improvement at chess you need to work on all of the elements of the game in a systematic way:

  • tactics
  • positional play
  • attacking skills
  • endgame technique
  • classical games analysis
  • psychological preparation
  • and much more

That seems to be like a lot of things, and that is. But no worries, we have made it easy for you. Our comprehensive training course covers it all and much more. Sign up for 21 Day Training right now!

Do you want to improve your skills at openings in chess? Check out our store and articles:

  • Opening Mastery – Dominate with1.e4 by GM Marian Petrov
  • Practical Openings for White – For Club Players
Find this post useful? Share it?
Become a Chess Player You've Meant to Be!
TCW Academy is the fast, fun & convenient way to become a MUCH better chess player.
Join Academy Today!

Related Posts

  • 5 Must-Do Things to Prepare for Your Next Tournament5 Must-Do Things to Prepare for Your Next Tournament
  • 5 Things You Can Learn From the Classics5 Things You Can Learn From the Classics
  • Learning New Opening in 4 Easy Steps: A Master’s GuideLearning New Opening in 4 Easy Steps: A Master’s Guide
Related Products
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Login
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Join the FREE Road to 2200 Masterclass (and learn how to Attack Like a Chess Master)
We value your privacy
Supercharge Your Chess in 21 Days!
Join Academy Today!
TheChessWorld.com
http://pogonina.com/
Company
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • F.A.Q.
  • Partnership
  • Blog
  • Grandmasters
  • Jobs
Chess Resources
  • TCW Academy
  • The Store
  • 21 Day Course
  • Play Computer
Top Resources
  • Opening Lab
  • Mastermind
  • Chess Mastery Series
  • Academy
100% Secure Purchase
Money Back PayPal SSL Comodo
Customer Support +1 (410) 656-9104
Email Us [email protected]
Contact Us
Facebook Twitter Mail Pinterest Youtube
Copyright 2007-2023 • TheChessWorld.com • All Rights Reserved
Cookie Policy | Acceptable Use Policy | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of all the cookies.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
wpDiscuz