Hi Jim,

JC> Can you post a game where you opened with b4, as I don't recall having
JC> any experience with it either as black or white.
 I've never actually played 1.b4 (the Sokolsky or Orangutan opening :)).
I play 1.b3 now and again. This is the Nimzowitsch-Larsen attack, it's not
so unusual. However if you wish I'd be happy to post a few of my games, 
although they tend to be dull positional games. I used it as the basis for
(or perhaps in place of) a white repertoire when I on my first (and so
far only) Minor Tournament. I found however that it was not quite
sufficient against the stronger players...
JC> I'll post (assuming I can find it) the last time I opened with e3,
JC> which was probably 250 or so games ago.
 I'd be interested to see it. 
JC> Just for the record, I open with e4 as white approximately 95% of the
JC> time. 
 Well, I can't argue with that then :)
JC> BTW the "oddest" opening I've faced as black was what my opponent
JC> called the "8 pawn attack" in which he started with a3, then b3, c3.
JC> etc. 
 My God! That must be have been interesting!
 For the record the most bizarre opening I've ever seen is my friend's 
'Bloomfield's Defence' which in reply to any white opening move Black
replies 1...Nc6 and any second move 2...Nb8 and if possible 3...Nc6 and
4...Nb8 (although 3...Nf6 4...Ng8 can transpose ;). 
 I actually once used the 'Semi-Bloomfield' in a Blitz game where I only
made the first three moves and then carried on 'as normal'. I won too,
I think my opponent looked baffled throughout the game :)
JC> Is such an off the wall reportoire sound? Obviously not BUT vs. book
JC> players, well there's simply no theory so, you never know...
 I agree, you have to play both 'the man' and 'the board' so there's
nothing wrong with playing a little bizarre chess. I mean even 1.e3 isn't
so bizarre... you could play a reverse French Defence and that can't be 
bad :)
 However it's only of limited practical value... after all after you play
'off the wall' a few times it becomes book! (albeit with a few '?!'s in
the lines) :)
 Dave
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