Anderssen's Opening (1.a3)

Anderssen’s Opening

Definition

Anderssen’s Opening is the chess opening that begins with the move 1. a3. By advancing the a-pawn one square on the first move, White neither stakes an immediate claim in the center nor frees any piece, but instead makes a quiet, flexible gesture that can transpose into many other systems. The ECO (Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings) code most commonly associated with 1. a3 is A00, the catch-all code for irregular first moves.

Typical Uses & Ideas

• Preparing b2–b4. After 1. a3, one of White’s main ideas is to follow up with b2–b4, grabbing queenside space and possibly fianchettoing the bishop with Bb2.
• Waiting strategy. By avoiding early commitment in the center, White invites Black to reveal their structure first, hoping to tailor a response.
• Psychological weapon. Because 1. a3 is seen so rarely, it can knock an opponent out of prepared opening theory on move one.
• Transpositional tool. Anderssen’s Opening can transpose into:
  • Sicilian Wing Gambit ideas after 1. a3 e5 2. b4.
  • Queenside London-type setups with pawns on d4, e3, and bishops on d3 and b2.
  • English Opening structures when play continues with c2–c4.

Strategic & Positional Considerations

The move 1. a3 is sometimes described as a “pass with potential.” White forgoes the usual fight for the center and instead asks: “Can you demonstrate something concrete with an extra tempo in a well-known structure?” If Black cannot do so, the tempo spent on a3 may turn useful later for expanding with b4 or preventing …Bb4 or …Nb4 incursions.

On the downside, White risks falling behind in development; if Black strikes quickly in the center with moves like …d5 and …e5 (or …c5 and …d5), the tempo used on a3 can look extravagant.

Historical Background

The name honors the 19th-century German master Adolf Anderssen, famed for his romantic attacking games such as the “Immortal” (1851) and “Evergreen” (1852) games. Anderssen occasionally opened with 1. a3 in casual or consultation play—most notably in Anderssen – Mayet, Berlin 1851, where he later launched a kingside assault despite the modest first move.

Since then, the opening has remained a curiosity, surfacing sporadically in master practice. Modern players who have experimented with it include Hikaru Nakamura, Richard Rapport, Wesley So, and correspondence grandmasters looking for fresh territory.

Illustrative Games & Examples

1. Anderssen – Mayet, Berlin 1851

A classic early appearance of the move. Anderssen played 1. a3 e5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3, eventually launching a fierce kingside attack that belied the tame opening.

2. Nakamura – So, Saint Louis Blitz 2019

Sequence: 1. a3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 c5 5. dxc5 Bxc5. The game soon resembled a Queen’s Gambit Accepted where White’s a-pawn proved handy in restraining …Bb4 and supporting b4.

3. A Miniature Trap

After 1. a3 e5 2. b4 d5 3. Bb2, an unwary Black can drift into trouble:

1. 3…f6? 4. e4! d4 5. Bc4 and White’s quick development gives strong pressure on f7 and the diagonal a2–g8.

Practical Tips

• Against 1…e5 consider 2. b4 (Sicilian Wing Gambit idea) or 2. c4, heading for an English with a useful a3.
• Against 1…d5 the solid 2. d4 allows transposition to Queen’s Gambit-type positions where …Bb4 is impossible.
• Don’t neglect development: the a-pawn move must be justified by rapid piece activity or queenside space.

Anecdotes & Fun Facts

• In informal blitz sessions, legendary attacker Mikhail Tal reportedly opened with 1. a3 on occasion, relishing the chance to unleash unorthodox tactics from quiet beginnings.
• Streamers often nickname 1. a3 the “Meow Opening,” likening the a-pawn to a curious cat pawing forward before the fight starts.
• Engines rate 1. a3 at roughly +0.10 to +0.20—perfectly playable, yet conceding the theoretical edge usually associated with White’s first-move initiative.

Summary

Anderssen’s Opening (1. a3) is an irregular yet perfectly sound choice for players who enjoy steering opponents into less-charted waters. While it concedes a measure of central influence, it repays the creative strategist with rich transpositional possibilities and unexpected middlegame plans.