Ware Opening

a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Moves	1. a4
ECO	A00
Named after	Preston Ware
Parent	Irregular chess opening
Synonym(s)	Meadow Hay Opening
Chessgames.com opening explorer

The Ware Opening or Meadow Hay Opening, is an uncommon chess opening in which White opens with

1. a4

It is named after U.S. chess player Preston Ware, who often played uncommon openings. It is considered an irregular opening, so it is classified under the A00 code in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings.

The Ware opening attacks the b5 square and threatens to bring the a1 rook to the game. The b5 square is non-essential and if Black plays 1...e5, the f8 bishop prevents developing the white rook for the moment. The reply 1...e5 also gains space for Black in the center, something that openings are supposed to do but Ware Opening fails in. Noting all this, the Ware Opening is something one may only expect to see from players completely new to chess.

Usually, an experienced player using the Ware Opening will meet a response of 1... d5 or 1... e5 with 2. d4 or 2. e4, respectively, as a reversed Scandinavian or Englund Gambit would be unsound here. At some later point the move a5 will be made, followed by Ra4 (as Ra3?? invites ...Bxa3 Nxa3 with a definite advantage for Black).

Named variations

There are several named variations in the Ware Opening. The best known of these is the

• Crab Variation, which continues 1... e5 2. h4. This does nothing to help White, but instead weakens his position even more.
• The Wing Gambit of the Ware Opening is characterized by 1... b5 2. axb5 Bb7.
• The Cologne Gambit continues 1... b6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nd7, and
• The Ware Gambit continues 1... e5 2. a5 d5 3. e3 f5 4. a6.
• The rarely seen Symmetric Variation continues 1... a5.

See also

• Corn Stalk Defense (Sometimes known as the Ware Defense.)
• Preston Ware
• List of chess openings
• List of chess openings named after people

References

• Hooper, David and Kenneth Whyld (1996). The Oxford Companion to Chess. Oxford University. ISBN 0-19-280049-3. 
• Dunnington, Angus (2000). Winning Unorthodox Openings. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1857442854 
• p. 506-508 Eric Schiller (2002). Unorthodox Chess Openings (Second ed.). Cardoza. ISBN 1-58042-072-9.