Barnes Opening: Hammerschlag

Barnes Opening: Hammerschlag is a chess opening with the ECO code A00, part of the Barnes Opening family. It goes 1. f3 e5 2. Kf2. White opens with 1. f3 (the Barnes move) and Black answers 1... e5. After 3 moves it is Black to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. f3 – White plays the pawn to f3
• 1... e5 – Black plays the pawn to e5
• 2. Kf2 – White plays the king to f2

About the Barnes Opening

White starts with 1.f3, one of the worst first moves. It weakens the king and takes the best square from the g1 knight.

• The idea is to support e4 later, but it is slow.
• Fool's Mate: 1.f3 e5 2.g4?? Qh4# is the fastest checkmate.
• Black should take the centre and develop fast.

Related openings

• It extends: Barnes Opening (1. f3)
• Related line: Barnes Opening: Gedult Gambit (1. f3 f5 2. e4 fxe4 3. Nc3)
• Related line: Barnes Opening: Walkerling (1. f3 e5 2. e4 Nf6 3. Bc4)
• Related line: Barnes Opening: Gedult Gambit (1. f3 d5 2. e4 g6 3. d4 dxe4 4. c3)
• Related line: Barnes Opening: Fool's Mate (1. f3 e5 2. g4 Qh4#)

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