Chess Opening Theory/1. f3/1...e5/2. Kf2

Barnes 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
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/pppp1ppp/8/4p3/8/5P2/PPPPPKPP/RNBQ1BNR b
Moves: 1. f3 e5 2. Kf2

The Fried Fox Attack

The move 2.Kf2?! (ECO code A00) is called various things in various parts of the world. Most commonly known as the Fried Fox/Pork Chop Opening but also known throughout much of Europe as the Hammerschlag. In the United States some theory has been published to award-winning praise under the name Schmoe Attack.

On 29 September 2020, World Champion GM Magnus Carlsen (as of 28 April 2022) has played this opening against GM Wesley So in the Banter Series, and defeated him with it. The latter said the loss to be "humiliating".

In 2001 a "mystery GM" playing at the I.C.C. (Internet Chess Club) was beating all Grandmasters (GMs) and International Masters (IMs) with this opening for several months. GM Nigel Short lost several games to this mystery player using this opening, and he had a theory from chats he and this player had had after their games that this was in fact Bobby Fischer, trying to prove that you can win at the highest levels in chess even with random openings and in this way promoting Fischer Random Chess.

There is a competing rumor told by GM Larry Evans and others in the chess community that someone using a chess interface engine which plays the moves straight to the game instead of the cumbersome process of transferring moves from the chess engine to the online game was playing a trick on the online chess community. Fischer is not on record as having ever commented on the matter.

Positional Ideas: White wants to calmly trade off pieces to lessen the chances of a successful attack against his king. As pieces come off the board white's king will be in a good position to control the center and help in a king and pawn ending.

Psychological Ideas: The shock and awe factor of facing this opening may lead to overconfidence and reckless play from black, in this way the game may reach atypical positions with chances for creative and energetic play.

Opening Ideas: Controlling the center with f3 and often an early pawn advance to c3. An active king who if handled properly can assist in both attack and defense in the late opening and early middle-game.

Fried Fox/Pork Chop Opening Mainline

2...d5 Taking firm control of the center and opening line for the development of black's pieces. In the game between the two masters Williams, Simon Kim (2421) vs. Simons, Martin (2264)11.08.1999 - Chessbase Mega Database 2010 play continued 3.e3 Nf6 4.d4!? Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd6! 6.Ne2 O-O 7.Re1?! e4 8.Ng3 h5!? 9.f4 Bg4 10.Be2 g6?! and white went on to win a wild game.

3.c3 is a trappy move which can assist in taking over the center with a timely pawn advance to d4, it also allows movement of the queen along the deadly d1-a4 diagonal. 3...Nf6 4.Na3!? leads to fun and unexplored positions.