Chessy
Sodium Attack: how to handle 1.Na3 as White
The Sodium Attack starts with 1.Na3, and the first thing to know is that the position is already uncomfortable for you. Stockfish rates this -0.74, a clear advantage for Black. That means you are in trouble from the start, so this lesson is about survival: learn the engine’s best reply, recognise the most common continuations, and use the drill below to practise the position until the ideas feel natural. Short, simple plans matter here more than memorising long lines.
Play the Sodium Attack against the engine
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Play the drill now and practise the critical replies move by move. Create a free account to track your progress and build confidence from the opening position.
Create a free account →What the numbers say about 1.Na3
This opening does not give White a healthy game. In 185,389 games at this exact position, White wins 37.3%, draws 6.0%, and Black wins 56.7%. That is a strong warning sign: if you choose the Sodium Attack, you should expect Black to get an easy start and a lasting edge. The practical lesson is not to hope the opening will “win by surprise”; instead, focus on making the position playable and avoiding early concessions.
Black’s best answer
The engine’s best move here is e5, and the suggested continuation is e5 d4 exd4 Qxd4. That tells you Black is happy to claim space and open lines right away. As White, your job is to understand that the position will usually become clear and direct very quickly, so your moves should prioritise development and king safety rather than chasing tricks. In the drill, try to meet this setup without drifting into passive, cramped play.
What Black usually plays
The most common continuation is e5, with 84,221 games, and White scores 35.7% there. Other popular replies are d5 (34,153 games, White scores 37.6%), e6 (15,916 games, White scores 36.9%), Nf6 (9,184 games, White scores 37.1%), c5 (7,139 games, White scores 38.4%), and g6 (6,145 games, White scores 39.1%). The broad picture is that Black has many easy ways to meet 1.Na3, so you should be ready for a range of central setups rather than expecting one forced answer.
The main practical warning
Two replies are flagged as mistakes: c5 and g6. Both are called inaccuracies, and the engine says each one loses about 0.7 pawns or 0.8 pawns compared with the best move, which was e5. That does not make the opening good for White; it simply means Black can still go wrong while remaining better. If you are facing this as White, the best practical habit is to keep calm and punish loose moves with normal development and central play.
Results across 185,389 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| e5 | 84,221 | 35.7% |
| d5 | 34,153 | 37.6% |
| e6 | 15,916 | 36.9% |
| Nf6 | 9,184 | 37.1% |
| c5 | 7,139 | 38.4% |
| g6 | 6,145 | 39.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sodium Attack good for White?
No. The evaluation is **-0.74**, which means Black has a clear advantage. The game record also shows Black winning much more often than White in this exact position.
What is Black’s best reply after 1.Na3?
The engine’s best move is **e5**. The listed continuation is **e5 d4 exd4 Qxd4**, so Black can respond very directly and seize the initiative.
Which replies does Black choose most often?
The most played reply is **e5**, followed by **d5**, **e6**, **Nf6**, **c5**, and **g6**. That means you should expect Black to challenge the centre in several ordinary ways.
Are any Black moves shown as mistakes?
Yes. **c5** and **g6** are marked as inaccuracies. The engine prefers **e5** over both, so if Black chooses one of those, you may get a slightly better chance to simplify the position.
How many games feature the Sodium Attack?
Over 185K Lichess games have reached the Sodium Attack position. White wins 37.3%, Black wins 56.7%, with 6.0% draws — based on real rated games.