Hi Shallow Blue.
Agree that some/most of the unorthodox play is down to poor play.
However, some of the lesser known players have some unorthodox opening
ideas which are not too bad. There is an idea behind them
Everyone say hello to thesag2 who dabbled for a while (13 games w.6 L7)
with 1.e4 e5 2.Be2 It's not too bad. Worth a go.
The idea is apparently to play the Philidor Defence in reverse when the
Bishop on e2 does not look out of place at all. First a win.
thesag2 - nerotheblack RHP 2007
1. e4 e5 2. Be2 Nf6 3. d3 d5 {It's gone into a Philidor Reversed.} 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Bf3 e4 6. Nc3 Qe5 7. dxe4 Bb4 8. Bd2 Nxe4 {OOPS!} 9. Nxe4 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 {Now the possible intention was 10...f5 but 11. 0-0-0 puts Black in a spot of bother. so he snatches the QNP...} 10... Qxb2 11. Qc3 Qxc3+ 12. Nxc3 O-O 13. Nge2 c6 14. Rb1 a6 15. O-O {Black resigned.}
And what happens when you try an unorthodox opening against a player who ignores it.
thesag2 - ChessChuckles RHP 2002
1. e4 e5 2. Be2 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. h3 {Another typical Philidor move.} 4... O-O {Ignore it and develop.} 5. Nf3 d5 6. Bg5 dxe4 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. dxe4 Nc6 9. c3 Qg6 10. O-O Bxh3 11. Nh4 {White was perhaps banking on this move when he castled but....} 11...Qxe4 12. gxh3 Rad8 13. Bf3 Qxh4 14. Qe2 Rd6 {Black's build up getting his bits across to the Kingside instead of simply nicking material is good chess.} 15. Kh2 Qf4+ 16. Kh1 Rh6 17. Bg2 e4 {Sets up a Queen and Bishop battery against h2 also in some lines it gives e5 to the c6 Knight.} 18. f3 Bd6 19. Kg1 Qh2+ {Black goes in for a bit of King juggling to get the King and his Queen on the right squares for a Rook sac.} 20. Kf2 Bg3+ 21. Ke3 Bf4+ 22. Kf2 Qg3+ 23. Kg1 Rxh3 24. Rf2 {There is nothing to be done but sit and watch the Rook sac.} 24... Rh1+ {Mate next move.}