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This thread is presently the latest addition to my Junkyard Openings chesstalk threads series, which often involves displaying my occasional attempts at rehabilitating suspect openings.
Junk Ops 4.0, Part I: Black vs. standard Flank moves
Coming up with a substantial number of suspect, yet possibly not quite clearly inferior defences against the standard White flank openings that begin with 1.c4, 1.Nf3 or 1.g3 can be something of a challenge for Black, and may even be one reason to put off some players from including offbeat defences in their repertoires as even occasional choices. There is apparently no shortage of such defences to 1.e4 or 1.d4.
Here's my suggestion for a list of such defences, which may not be complete or entirely correct in some people's opinions :):
vs. 1c4/Nf3/g3:
1...g6 intending offbeat Rat lines (a Hippopotamus formation [all minor pieces developed to the 2nd rank] is especially attractive against 1.Nf3, i.e. with an early f2-f4 ruled out).
1...Nc6 (can lead to interesting offbeat stuff, e.g. a Chigorin QG, or 1.c4 Nc6 2.g3 d5!?)
1...f5 followed by any sort of a Dutch formation is arguably slightly offbeat still.
Note that an Old Indian formation can be attempted against these first moves.
Also, note that there are some strange but fully reliable Symmetrical English lines for Black.
vs.1c4/Nf3:
1...b6 intending the English Defence
1...e6/Nf6 (or if 1.Nf3 d5) intending to transpose to the Classical Orthodox QGD (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 Nbd7), which is arguably slightly offbeat since it's peak of popularity at the top level is long past.
vs.1c4/g3:
1...g5
Also, note that there are some strange but fully reliable 1.c4 e5 (King's English) lines for Black, which can also be reached by 1.g3 e5.
vs.1c4:
1...a6 (or 1...c5 first) 2.Nc3 (2.g3 h5!? when 3.Nf3 allows b5, and after 3.h4 e5 Black can at least hope to try to make the insertion of the h-pawn advances work in his favour somehow) 2...c5 can lead to odd Hedgehog lines, or strange versions of the QG Tarrasch, after ...e6.
vs.1.Nf3:
1...c5 and if 2.c4 (2.g3 might be met by 2...b5!?) 2...a6 - compare vs. 1.c4 (only) above.
1...d6 intending ...Bg4 after most moves.
1...b5
1...h6 and if 2.b3 b6 (2...g5 3.Bb2 Nf6
4.g3 has been played, though 4.Bxf6/e4 were possible) 3.Bb2 Bb7 followed by ...e6, ...Nf6, ...Rg8 and ...g5 has been tried by the offbeat opening specialist Michael Basman.
vs.1.g3:
1...c5 2.Bg2 Nf6 3.c4 e6 and if 4.Nf3 a6 - compare vs. 1c4 (only) above.
1...d6 2.Bg2 c6/Nc6 intending ...Bg4 vs. most moves (if 3.e4 f5 seems playable).
1...h5 and if 2.Nf3 b5!?
seems playable, though perhaps it's untried (2...b6?! 3.Bg2 Bb7 4.d4 with the idea 4...e6 5.c4 looks like a clearly inferior version of a Queen's Indian).
Junk Ops 4.0, Part II: White non-standard Flank moves
Here I'll briefly overview what I consider White's most interesting offbeat first moves (i.e. I'll set aside 1.e4, 1.d4, 1.c4, 1.Nf3 and 1.g3):
1.b3 and 1.f4 are moves that I consider to be only somewhat reliable, and most people wouldn't have a problem with that assessment.
1.b4 and 1.g4 are interesting, but very unreliable if White is hoping for any sort of edge. The Grob even may leave White fighting for equality, but I won't quibble. :)
Now I come to generally underestimated (perhaps) first moves. 1.e3, 1.d3 and 1.c3 are all moves that have interesting transpositional possibilities, e.g. if one is hoping to play some system of the Bird's Opening without allowing the From Gambit (1.f4 e5 2.fxe5) or transposing to the King's Gambit instead (2.e4) [Note that 1.g3 or 1.b3 can also serve this purpose].
An interesting point about 1.c3 is that after 1...e5 2.d4 exd4 instead of 3.cxd4 d5 with an equal version of the QGD (White trading prematurely on d5, allowing the plan ...c6 [enabling ...Qb6 in response to Qb3] followed by ...Bf5 before White develops both of his bishops as usual), White can recapture with 3.Qxd4
as Emmanual Lasker once did in a Simul that he gave. Then White is playing a Scandiavian Defence a tempo up, which may or may not be 'clearly' equal(!)
Lastly, there is 1.Nc3,
which also has some interesting transpositional and independent possibilities. After 1...d5 2.e4 (2.d4 can become a Veresov Attack) an independent possibility is 2...d4 3.Nce2, with a sort of Nimzovich Defence line (compare 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7, possibly intending to transfer with ...Ng6). A strange transpositional possibility is 2...dxe4 3.Nxe4 Qd5!? 4.Nc3, with a standard Scandinavian Defence where both sides have lost a tempo. Then there is 1...e5 2.Nf3 (2.e4 is a Vienna) 2...Nc6 3.d4!? (instead 3.e4 can be a Three or Four Kts).
Junk Ops 4.0, Part I: Black vs. standard Flank moves
Coming up with a substantial number of suspect, yet possibly not quite clearly inferior defences against the standard White flank openings that begin with 1.c4, 1.Nf3 or 1.g3 can be something of a challenge for Black, and may even be one reason to put off some players from including offbeat defences in their repertoires as even occasional choices. There is apparently no shortage of such defences to 1.e4 or 1.d4.
Here's my suggestion for a list of such defences, which may not be complete or entirely correct in some people's opinions :):
vs. 1c4/Nf3/g3:
1...g6 intending offbeat Rat lines (a Hippopotamus formation [all minor pieces developed to the 2nd rank] is especially attractive against 1.Nf3, i.e. with an early f2-f4 ruled out).
1...Nc6 (can lead to interesting offbeat stuff, e.g. a Chigorin QG, or 1.c4 Nc6 2.g3 d5!?)
1...f5 followed by any sort of a Dutch formation is arguably slightly offbeat still.
Note that an Old Indian formation can be attempted against these first moves.
Also, note that there are some strange but fully reliable Symmetrical English lines for Black.
vs.1c4/Nf3:
1...b6 intending the English Defence
1...e6/Nf6 (or if 1.Nf3 d5) intending to transpose to the Classical Orthodox QGD (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 Nbd7), which is arguably slightly offbeat since it's peak of popularity at the top level is long past.
vs.1c4/g3:
1...g5
Also, note that there are some strange but fully reliable 1.c4 e5 (King's English) lines for Black, which can also be reached by 1.g3 e5.
vs.1c4:
1...a6 (or 1...c5 first) 2.Nc3 (2.g3 h5!? when 3.Nf3 allows b5, and after 3.h4 e5 Black can at least hope to try to make the insertion of the h-pawn advances work in his favour somehow) 2...c5 can lead to odd Hedgehog lines, or strange versions of the QG Tarrasch, after ...e6.
vs.1.Nf3:
1...c5 and if 2.c4 (2.g3 might be met by 2...b5!?) 2...a6 - compare vs. 1.c4 (only) above.
1...d6 intending ...Bg4 after most moves.
1...b5
1...h6 and if 2.b3 b6 (2...g5 3.Bb2 Nf6
4.g3 has been played, though 4.Bxf6/e4 were possible) 3.Bb2 Bb7 followed by ...e6, ...Nf6, ...Rg8 and ...g5 has been tried by the offbeat opening specialist Michael Basman.
vs.1.g3:
1...c5 2.Bg2 Nf6 3.c4 e6 and if 4.Nf3 a6 - compare vs. 1c4 (only) above.
1...d6 2.Bg2 c6/Nc6 intending ...Bg4 vs. most moves (if 3.e4 f5 seems playable).
1...h5 and if 2.Nf3 b5!?
seems playable, though perhaps it's untried (2...b6?! 3.Bg2 Bb7 4.d4 with the idea 4...e6 5.c4 looks like a clearly inferior version of a Queen's Indian).
Junk Ops 4.0, Part II: White non-standard Flank moves
Here I'll briefly overview what I consider White's most interesting offbeat first moves (i.e. I'll set aside 1.e4, 1.d4, 1.c4, 1.Nf3 and 1.g3):
1.b3 and 1.f4 are moves that I consider to be only somewhat reliable, and most people wouldn't have a problem with that assessment.
1.b4 and 1.g4 are interesting, but very unreliable if White is hoping for any sort of edge. The Grob even may leave White fighting for equality, but I won't quibble. :)
Now I come to generally underestimated (perhaps) first moves. 1.e3, 1.d3 and 1.c3 are all moves that have interesting transpositional possibilities, e.g. if one is hoping to play some system of the Bird's Opening without allowing the From Gambit (1.f4 e5 2.fxe5) or transposing to the King's Gambit instead (2.e4) [Note that 1.g3 or 1.b3 can also serve this purpose].
An interesting point about 1.c3 is that after 1...e5 2.d4 exd4 instead of 3.cxd4 d5 with an equal version of the QGD (White trading prematurely on d5, allowing the plan ...c6 [enabling ...Qb6 in response to Qb3] followed by ...Bf5 before White develops both of his bishops as usual), White can recapture with 3.Qxd4
as Emmanual Lasker once did in a Simul that he gave. Then White is playing a Scandiavian Defence a tempo up, which may or may not be 'clearly' equal(!)
Lastly, there is 1.Nc3,
which also has some interesting transpositional and independent possibilities. After 1...d5 2.e4 (2.d4 can become a Veresov Attack) an independent possibility is 2...d4 3.Nce2, with a sort of Nimzovich Defence line (compare 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 Nce7, possibly intending to transfer with ...Ng6). A strange transpositional possibility is 2...dxe4 3.Nxe4 Qd5!? 4.Nc3, with a standard Scandinavian Defence where both sides have lost a tempo. Then there is 1...e5 2.Nf3 (2.e4 is a Vienna) 2...Nc6 3.d4!? (instead 3.e4 can be a Three or Four Kts).