Openings
- Chess Atlas Subsections
- VOL. I • Chess HistoryFrom Chaturanga to Neural Engines
- VOL. II • Classic ChessPieces, Notation & Rules
- VOL. III • Legendary PlayersPantheon of Chess Immortals
- VOL. IV • Great GamesInteractive game studies
- VOL. V • OpeningsOriginal CAISSORA Opening Articles
- VOL. VI • Tactics & StrategyForks, Pins & Board Geometry
Sodium Attack
A chemist's joke on the edge of the board
- Offbeat
White's first move puts the knight on a3. In notation that is Na3, and Na is the symbol for sodium, hence the name. A knight on the rim controls almost nothing and must move again, and Black's bishop can trade it off and double White's pawns. So the move is seen as a weak start and is played rarely: for surprise and a position without theory.
3.e4
Moves
(5 plies • 3 moves)- 1–3moves
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
Defining move
1.Na3 — the knight on the rim
The move that gives the opening its name
The knight leaves b1, but on a3 it does not look at the centre. To become useful it needs another move, for instance to c4. While White spends that time, Black takes the centre and develops freely.
Tabiya
The knight returns by way of c4
White's knight has reached c4 and eyes e5, and the e4 pawn takes the centre. It looks normal, but a spare move went into bringing the knight back. Black can develop calmly or play …f5 in the spirit of the Durkin Gambit. White hopes for surprise and for Black to lose the thread in an unfamiliar position.
White’s plan
- Bring the knight back into play: Nc4 or the c2-c4 pawn.
- Take the centre with e2-e4 and develop as usual.
- If needed, switch to a fianchetto with b2-b3 and Bb2.
Black’s plan
- Take the centre with …d5 or …e5 and develop calmly.
- Make use of the spare tempo while White's knight wanders at the edge.
- If it pays, trade the knight with the bishop and double White's pawns.
History
The other name is the Durkin Opening, after the American player Robert Durkin, who published a short book on the move in 1959.
Games in the Atlas
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