Durkin Opening


The Durkin Opening is a rarely played chess opening beginning with the move:
The Durkin Opening is named for Robert T. Durkin of New Jersey. The name "Sodium Attack" comes from the algebraic notation 1.Na3, as Na is the chemical symbol for the element sodium. White may follow up by playing c4, e.g. 1...d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nxc4.

Assessment

This development of the does little to utilize White's advantage of the first move. On a3 the knight does not control squares, and White would have to move this knight again for it to do so. Angus Dunnington suggests that combining this with a gradual central expansion should give White a reasonable position.

Variations