Amar Opening: Paris and Gent Gambits
Amar Opening (also known as the Paris Opening)
Definition
The Amar Opening is a rare first-move choice for White that begins with 1. Nh3. It is nicknamed the “Paris Opening” because Savielly Tartakower employed it several times during the 1933 Paris Olympiad, where it attracted attention. The move develops a knight to the edge of the board, intentionally violating the classical principle that a knight is best placed toward the centre.
Typical Move-Order
- Nh3 (the defining move)
- … d5 (Black takes the centre)
- g3 (White prepares Bg2 and influence over e4/f5)
Strategic Ideas
- Control of f4 and g5: from h3, the knight eyes the f4 square, where it can later support an f-pawn push or hop to g5.
- Flexible kingside setup: plans often include g3, Bg2, d3, O-O, and sometimes the pawn thrust f4.
- Psychological weapon: because it is so uncommon, it can take unprepared opponents out of mainstream theory as early as move one.
- Inherent drawbacks: the knight is on the rim (“a knight on the rim is dim”), Black can seize the centre quickly, and it may take several tempi to re-route the knight to a more active square.
Historical Notes
The opening is named after the French amateur Charles Amar (late 19th–early 20th century). Tartakower jokingly referred to 1. Nh3 as “Amar (étourdi),” meaning “Amar’s bashful (or absent-minded) move.” Although never a mainstream opening, it has appeared sporadically in master practice, especially in blitz and rapid formats where surprise value is magnified.
Illustrative Mini-Game
This blitz skirmish (Internet, 2021) shows many recurring themes: an early kingside f-pawn sacrifice, rapid development of bishops to long diagonals, and dynamic central counterplay.
Interesting Facts
- Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura has used 1. Nh3 in online bullet games to throw engines and humans alike off balance.
- According to the Mega-Database 2024, 1. Nh3 scores roughly 46 % for White—surprisingly respectable for such an offbeat start.
- In Chess960, 1. Nh3 can sometimes be the most principled move because the starting positions differ; thus the Amar Opening is a reminder that opening philosophy is context-dependent.
Paris Gambit (in the Amar/Paris Opening)
Definition
The Paris Gambit is an aggressive pawn sacrifice by White arising from the Amar Opening. The typical sequence is:
- Nh3 d5
- g3 e5
- f4 !? (the gambit move)
White offers the f-pawn to pry open the centre and exploit dark-square weaknesses created by …e5.
Purpose and Strategic Themes
- Rapid Lead in Development: After …exf4 4. d4, White gains two central pawns and opens lines for both bishops.
- Dark-Square Pressure: The g2-bishop and queen often coordinate on the a8-h1 diagonal against Black’s king.
- Element of Surprise: Hardly any mainstream opening manuals devote space to this line, so defenders are on their own.
Theoretical Assessment
Modern engines give Black a slight plus if the defence is precise (…exf4, …Nf6, …Bd6, and quick short-castling), but in practical play the positions can become razor-sharp.
Model Game
Tartakower – Blümich, Paris (friendly), 1933
Tartakower’s compensation lay in active pieces and a lead in development; the game was later annotated in his collection Bréviaire des Échecs.
Anecdotes & Trivia
- The gambit’s name honors Paris because it was first analyzed in cafés near the Boulevard Saint-Germain after Tartakower’s exhibition games.
- In casual conversation Tartakower quipped, “A sacrificed pawn in Paris is worth a pawn and a half elsewhere.”
Gent Gambit (in the Amar/Paris Opening)
Definition
The Gent Gambit is another pawn-sacrifice line branching from the Amar Opening, usually continuing from the Paris Gambit after Black accepts the pawn:
- Nh3 d5
- g3 e5
- f4 exf4
- Nf4 (or 4. d4)
White forgoes immediate recapture with gxf4 and instead pursues piece activity, letting Black cling to the f-pawn.
Why “Gent”?
The line was discussed at a 1964 weekend tournament in Ghent (Dutch spelling “Gent”), Belgium. Belgian master Alberic O’Kelly de Galway reportedly demonstrated the idea during an analysis session, and the name stuck among local players before entering chess literature.
Key Motifs
- Open g-file Attacks: If Black eventually plays …fxg3, the half-open g-file becomes a ready-made avenue for a rook lift.
- Delayed Material Recovery: By inviting …fxg3, White can recapture with a piece, saving a tempo and keeping central pawns mobile.
- Central Breaks: Moves like d4 and e3 aim to undermine Black’s pawn chain and liberate White’s pieces.
Example Continuation
A typical tactical sequence might run:
Black holds a pawn but White enjoys superior development and active diagonals.
Evaluation
Engine verdict: ≈ +/− 0.30 to 0.50 pawns in Black’s favour with best play. In practice, especially in blitz, the initiative often compensates fully or more.
Interesting Tidbits
- Because the line is so obscure, many databases simply lump it under “Amar Gambit” without subclassifying it, making independent preparation harder.
- Several correspondence players from Flanders have scored notable upsets with the Gent Gambit, keeping the Belgian connection alive.
- “Gent” is sometimes written “Ghent” in anglophone sources—both refer to the same city and the same variation.