Chessy
Anderssen's Opening: d5 — Waiting for the Right Moment
By starting with 1.a3, you dodge mountains of mainline theory and ask Black a simple question: what are you doing next? After the natural reply 1...d5, you follow up with 2.d4, reaching a familiar Queen's Pawn structure with one small difference — your a-pawn has already made its one-step journey. This page breaks down what that difference means, how the statistics shake out, and what you should be ready for on the next few moves. Jump straight into the interactive drill below to test your responses against the engine.
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Create a free account →What 1.a3 Actually Does
At first glance 1.a3 looks like a wasted move, but it serves a quiet purpose. By staking no immediate claim in the centre, you invite Black to commit first. The most common reply, 1...d5, takes space in the centre — a perfectly good move — and after 2.d4 you reach a kind of Queen's Pawn game where you already have ...a6 covered if Black ever tries the ...Bb4 pin or a quick ...b5 expansion. Stockfish evaluates the position at +0.09, which is essentially dead equal. You haven't lost anything, and you've kept the game on your own terms.
The Statistical Landscape
Over 600,000 games have reached the position after 1.a3 d5 2.d4, giving us reliable numbers. White wins 48.8%, draws 4.5%, and Black wins 46.7% — extremely balanced. The most popular Black move is 2...Nc6 (164,545 games), and here White scores a solid 50.6%, your best result among the top replies. The second most common, 2...Nf6 (140,728 games), sees White scoring 47.5% — still competitive but a touch lower. Against 2...c5 (37,738 games), White scores 47.1%, so be ready for Black to challenge the centre immediately.
Your Plan After 2...Nc6
When Black plays 2...Nc6, you have scored over 50% in practice — a strong sign. Develop naturally with moves like Nf3 and Bf4 or Bg5, keeping an eye on the centre. The knight on c6 doesn't threaten your d4-pawn yet (it can't because ...Nxd4 would drop the knight to Qxd4), so you can calmly finish development. The engine's preferred continuation against all responses is e6 (followed by Nf3, Nf6, Bf4), building a solid pawn chain and preparing kingside castling. Whatever Black chooses, your recipe is simple: develop, castle, and let the extra tempo on the a-file prove itself later.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The position looks simple, and that's where players slip. A few pitfalls to watch for: - Premature c4 pushes: Don't feel obliged to break the centre early. Black's setup is solid, and pushing c4 without preparation can leave weak squares behind. - Forgetting development: With a quiet opening like 1.a3 it's tempting to wander with the a-pawn again (a4?) or move pieces twice. Stick to natural developing moves. - Underestimating 2...c5: Black's third-most popular reply challenges your d4-pawn immediately. After 2...c5, the score is close (47.1% for White), so don't assume you're out of the woods — answer with 3.e3 or 3.Nf3 and continue normally.
Results across 600,600 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nc6 | 164,545 | 50.6% |
| Nf6 | 140,728 | 47.5% |
| e6 | 99,575 | 48.7% |
| Bf5 | 77,762 | 47.8% |
| c5 | 37,738 | 47.1% |
| c6 | 26,217 | 48.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is 1.a3 a good opening for beginners?
Yes, it's perfectly fine for club players. The position after 1.a3 d5 2.d4 is dead equal (+0.09), so you aren't hurting your chances. It avoids vast amounts of theory and forces you to play chess from move one, which is great training.
What is the best response to 1.a3?
Black most often plays 1...d5, grabbing central space. That's considered a strong, principled reply. From White's perspective, you get the solid structure you wanted, and the engine sees the position as completely level.
How should White handle 2...c5?
Black plays 2...c5 to attack your d4-pawn immediately — a sharp choice. The simplest approach is to play 3.e3 or 3.Nf3, reinforcing the centre. White scores 47.1% after 2...c5, so it's playable, but stay alert: Black wants to open the position while you're still developing.
Why does the engine recommend 2...e6 first?
The engine's top move is 2...e6, continuing with Nf3, Nf6, and Bf4. This builds a solid French-like pawn chain. Even though e6 is Black's best line statistically, White still scores a healthy 48.7% against it, so there's nothing to fear.