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I agree 1. f3 is quite bad, but 1. Na3 and 1. Nh3 aren't pretty either, especially as they have to move again to avoid a doubled pawn after ...d5 or ...e5.

The Benko Gambit is a sharp, but sound and deep opening: [FEN ""] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 The aggressive, but not-so-sound Budapest Gambit. …

How sound is 1.e4 e6 2.c4!?, the Steiner Variation in the French Defense, and would you actually recommend it? Does it work well in normal games, or is it more a surprise weapon for blitz?

[fen ""] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nxf7 ?! I'm pretty sure the Cochrane Gambit isn't correct. However, I find it difficult to defend against, as some "natural" moves don't seem to work. C …

As others pointed out bringing the queen into play early is a double edged sword. That said, there are several main lines doing this. Scandinavian was already mentioned. Then we have one Ponziani ma …

I like to play 1. e4, as I favor open and dynamic positions, and feel comfortable with most black responses, but I there are some openings I don't like, e.g. Sicilian or French. My aversion might be u …

Volga Gambit): [FEN ""] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 It is a sound and deep opening. If the gambit is accepted, it leads to sharp play and dynamic positions. …

I don't know much "Sicilian" theory, and decided to develop instead to defend e4. My opponent captured, and I got the pawn back with the obvious Qa4 check. Although he tried to start a queen hunt, she …

There are some situations where rooks become active in the opening, but they are rare, and often only enabled by blunders of the other side. …

For the main opening moves, there is no way to do that, e.g. 1. e4 can be met with 1. e5 or 1. c5 and there is nothing white can do about it. …

Generally moving a knight first gives your opponent more ways to respond, so you have a lower chance to steer the game in the direction you want. On the other hand it gives you a little bit more flexi …

It is not the "best" opening, but solid, and many players don't know it and lose some time thinking about the next moves. … Of course the opening must be still playable, and you need to know some theory. …

Generally white is considered to have a slight advantage, and black needs to "equalize". However there are also voices (e.g. András Adorján with his "Black is OK" books) who challenge this view and at …

Wikipedia puts it that way: This opening move does little for development or control of the center. … Anderssen's Opening is not a very constructive move for White, more a waiting move. …

For computer engines it is much harder to simulate a "human" style than just playing good. If you want to improve your play against humans, play against humans. Use the engines to analyze your games. …