The Damiano Defense

Important variations are animated at the bottom of the page.

This is a drunken idea that rarely works.  It is rated the number one worst opening.  White won 82%, black won 15%, and they drew 3%.  The line goes like this: 1. e4, e5  2. Nf3, f6.  There are so many ways to attack this that it is not worth your time to explain them all.

The Damiano Defense   A B C D E F G H 8 7     6               5               4               3                 2   1

This section is very brief because it only goes over one of the ways to attack it.  Basically, black just gives you a pawn by playing this opening.  Take a look for yourself.  3. Nxp.  Most people who play this are dumb, so they think that you are making a mistake.  They will probably take back.  3...pxN.  After that, 4. Qh5+ can be a good attack.  If you don't get a rook, you will get 2 pawns for a knight and an attacking chance.  They also might try this like the Russian Defense: 3...Qe7.  In this case, you really have to retreat the knight.  It doesn't matter where in particular.  If you tried 4. Qh5+, g6  5. Nxg6 (trying to get the rook and have discovered check possibilities), then this is unfortunately easily met by 5...Qxe4+, Be2, Qxg6.  However, black hinders development and messes up his pawn structure.  Even with the retread, black is in horrible shape.  all you need to do as white is Bc4 somewhere down the road and black can't even castle kingside.  Black may as well forfeit.