1.a3... 2.b4... 3.Bb2

This looks strong to me. I wonder why its almost never played. Anybody see any flaws with it?

I dont. Weyerstrass plays a variation of it almost every game, but instead its b3 c4 bb2, its related to the english opening

I don't like it at all. Here's why:

1. After 3 moves, you have no pawns in the center, only one piece developed, and no other pieces even ready to be developed, other than the knights.
2. You've already given your opponent a good idea of where your king is going to be, since you've pretty much ruled out castling queenside. This is good information for your opponent to have.
3. You've essentially squandered your first-move opportunity. You'll have to settle for no better than equality out of the opening. Equality is a good thing if you're Black, but not if you're White.

Slightly more common (and stronger) is the orangutan:
1.b4
2.Bb2

Looks like a Borg for White. Not to be recommended for all the reasons above. But give it a try if you like.

I've won correspondence games with 1.f3 2.Kf2. It, too, is a bad opening that works because people try to blow you off the board, rather than slowly crushing you positionally. After 1.a3 2.b4 and 3.Bb2, black has a slight advantage. Black players often err in believing they have an overwhelming advantage. That's why such garbage works.

Originally posted by buffalobill
Looks like a Borg for White. Not to be recommended for all the reasons above. But give it a try if you like.

Originally posted by zebano
Yes I believe the borg is another name for it. IT is playable (though inferior) just don't play the grob.

I think this opening puts presure on the center with the bishop and allows for pushing a pawn to b5, attack the knight that might be the only thing proteching his king's pawn.

its works well at my level of play at least