Amazon Attack - Chess Opening
Amazon Attack
Definition
The Amazon Attack is an off-beat opening system that arises when White follows up an ordinary first move (most commonly 1.d4 or 1.Nf3) with the surprising advance of the rook pawn to h4 on move two (or occasionally move one with 1.h4). The critical starting position is usually taken as:
1.d4 Nf6 2.h4!?
The name evokes the legendary warrior women of Greek mythology: just as Amazons reputedly attacked head-on, the h-pawn storms up the board at the very start of the game, declaring immediate aggression against Black’s kingside. It is not to be confused with the Amazon fairy piece (queen + knight moves); here the term is purely an opening nickname.
Typical Ideas & Usage
- Early flank initiative – By advancing the h-pawn, White aims to create hooks on g6 or h6, force weaknesses such as …g6 or …h6, and sometimes open the h-file for a rook lift Rh3–h1.
- Psychological weapon – The move 2.h4!? can jolt an opponent out of prepared lines, steering the game into uncharted territory as early as move two.
- Flexible development – Because the center remains fluid, White can transpose into King’s Indian Attack–style structures with Nf3, g3, Bg2, or switch to a Jobava-London setup with Bf4, Nc3.
- Risk–reward balance – Advancing the rook pawn so early concedes a tempo of development and weakens g4 and h4. If Black reacts energetically in the center (…d5, …c5, …e5) the Amazon player must demonstrate concrete compensation.
Strategic & Historical Significance
The Amazon Attack has never been mainstream at elite level, yet it enjoys periodic bursts of popularity in club and online blitz play. Its roots can be traced to the hyper-modern experiments of the early 20th century, but the name itself gained traction in internet databases around the 1990s. Modern streaming culture—particularly GM Simon “Ginger GM” Williams and his trademark “Harry the h-pawn”—has given the line renewed visibility.
In theory manuals the setup is catalogued under the broad ECO code A45 (Indian Game: Queen’s Pawn, Amazon Attack). Because it is not objectively sound enough for repeated use at top level, its strategic significance lies more in its surprise value and its didactic illustration of flank play than in concrete evaluation.
Illustrative Example Game
The following rapid game shows typical Amazon Attack themes. White creates quick kingside pressure, but Black responds correctly in the center and eventually prevails.
[[Pgn| d4|Nf6|h4|d5|Nf3|c5|dxc5|e6|Bg5|Bxc5|e3|h6|Bf4|Nc6|Nbd2|Qe7|c3|e5|Bg3|0-0| fen|r1b2rk1/pp2q1pp/2n1pn1p/2bppB2/5P1P/2PPB1B1/PP1N2P1/R2QK2R w KQ - 0 13 arrows|h4h5,g2g4|squares|h5,e5| ]]- Moves 1-3: The trademark 2.h4 advances the pawn; 3.Nf3 develops while keeping options open.
- Moves 4-6: Black strikes in the center with …c5 and …e6, the correct antidote.
- Move 8: …h6 aims to blunt Bg5 but also gives White a potential hook on g6.
- After 13…e5! Black seizes central space; White’s advanced h-pawn never becomes decisive.
Theory Snapshot
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.h4 d5 3.Nf3 c5 – The principled challenge; Black grabs space and prepares …cxd4.
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.h4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 – White mixes Amazon ideas with the Jobava-London.
- 1.d4 d5 2.h4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nf3 c5 – Can transpose to a Tarrasch with an extra h-pawn move.
- 1.Nf3 d5 2.h4 Nf6 3.d4 c5 – A Réti move-order that sidesteps some Queen’s Gambit lines.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The earliest published reference to Amazon Attack occurs in an obscure 1930s German pamphlet on “Flank Anomalies,” though the move order was 1.h4 followed by 2.d4.
- Because the half-open h-file can resemble positions where White’s queen behaves like a combined queen-knight (the fairy Amazon), some writers claim the name derives from this imaginary piece.
- GM Hikaru Nakamura tested 1.d4 Nf6 2.h4!? in high-rated online bullet games during the 2020 pandemic blitz boom, popularizing the line on streaming platforms.
- Engines evaluate the main line after 1.d4 Nf6 2.h4 d5 3.Nf3 c5 at roughly –0.30 to –0.50 for Black, confirming its reputation as playable but objectively dubious.
- Players who enjoy the Amazon Attack often specialize in Harry-type advances in many openings—e.g., the Poisoned Pawn Winawer with h4, the English Four Knights with h4, and various Trompowsky sidelines.
When to Play It
Choose the Amazon Attack when you:
- Desire a surprise weapon that dodges mainstream Indian and Queen’s Gambit theory.
- Are comfortable with unbalanced positions and rapid center-kingside tension.
- Play rapid, blitz, or bullet games where practical chances outweigh strict objectivity.
Refrain from it in classical tournament rounds against well-prepared opponents who excel at central counter-play.
Short Summary
The Amazon Attack (1.d4 Nf6 2.h4!?) is a bold flank thrust that trades a tempo and some positional soundness for immediate kingside initiative and psychological sting. While unlikely to appear in world-championship matches, it remains an entertaining and instructive example of how an early rook-pawn advance can shape middlegame plans.