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Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...e5/2. Bc4/2...a6

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Bishop's Opening: The Sideline 2...a6?!

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Bishop's Opening - Sideline 2...a6?!
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black kingb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black pawnb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black pawnf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 white bishopd4 black kinge4 white pawnf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 black kingf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 black kingg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 a6

2...a6?! doesn't have a variation name. It can't be considered serious because white gains a large advantage after 3. Nc3! (or 3. Nf3). Although it threatens ...b5, this move is timid and not a good option against the Bishop's Opening. 3. a4, though strange, gains space in the queenside and stops 3...b5. While 3. a4 is not as good as 3. Nc3 and 3. Nf3, it also refutes 2...a6?!.