What Is the Worst Opening in Chess? A Deep Dive

When beginners ask, What is the worst opening in chess?, the answer often sparks heated debate. Some players laugh at Grob’s Attack (1.g4), others cringe at the Bongcloud (1.e4 e5 2.Ke2), but most agree that the Barnes Opening (1.f3) is the clear “winner” of the worst chess category. 

Why? Because it manages to break nearly every opening principle at once: it weakens your king’s defenses, blocks your knight from its best square, and fails to fight for the center.

But “worst” doesn’t mean unplayable. In fast blitz games, these openings sometimes work as surprise weapons, and even grandmasters like Magnus Carlsen have tried them for fun. 

Still, if your goal is to improve and win consistently, these openings should be avoided. In this guide, we’ll break down the five worst chess openings, explain why they fail, and show you what to play instead.

Quick Comparison Table: 5 Worst Chess Openings

Worst Opening in Chess

1. Barnes Opening

The Barnes Opening (1.f3) is widely considered the worst opening in chess. On the surface, it looks like a simple pawn move, but the problems are immediate and severe. 

First, it blocks the knight from coming to f3, which is one of the most natural developing squares in countless sound openings. 

Second, it fatally weakens the diagonal leading to your king, setting up traps like Fool’s Mate if White follows up with g4. Finally, it doesn’t fight for the center, allowing Black to seize space instantly with 1…e5 or 1…d5.

Historically, the move was used by Thomas Wilson Barnes in the 19th century, but even then, it was never respected as sound theory. 

Today, engines confirm their flaws, often evaluating the position as worse for White after just one move. While Magnus Carlsen has toyed with it in blitz for laughs, beginners and improving players should avoid it entirely.

2. Ware Opening (1.a4)

The Ware Opening (1.a4) is another contender for the worst chess opening. Unlike Barnes, it doesn’t expose the king directly, but it wastes valuable time and achieves nothing. 

By pushing the a-pawn one square, White neither develops a piece nor challenges central control. Instead, the pawn often becomes a target for Black. After logical replies like 1…d5 or 1…e5, Black gains space while White is left scrambling to catch up.

The supposed “idea” behind the Ware Opening is to later push a5, which might inconvenience a Black knight on b6. But this is situational at best, and the delay means Black already controls the board. 

At the amateur level, it can be used to surprise opponents unfamiliar with it, but stronger players punish it instantly. Like other worst chess openings, Ware violates the golden rule: use your opening moves for development and central control, not side-pawn pushes.

3. Amar Opening (1.Nh3)

The Amar Opening (1.Nh3) develops a knight—but in the worst way possible. Knights are strongest when they control the center from squares like f3 or c3. 

By playing Nh3, White places the knight on the edge, where it influences almost nothing. Worse, it blocks the f-pawn, making it harder to develop and support the center later.

Black can respond with straightforward moves like …d5 and …e5, grabbing the middle without resistance. Meanwhile, White’s knight often has to waste time rerouting to f2 or g5, losing crucial tempi. In serious play, this tempo loss usually translates into a clear disadvantage by move five or six.

The Amar Opening occasionally appears in online blitz games, where players use it for surprise value. However, it has no standing in tournament play. Masters and engines alike agree that 1.Nh3 is strategically flawed and belongs firmly in the “worst openings” category.

4. Grob’s Attack (1.g4)

The Grob’s Attack (1.g4) is one of the most infamous bad openings in chess. At first glance, it looks aggressive—opening lines for the queen and bishop. But in reality, it does more harm than good. The pawn push fatally weakens the kingside and leaves White’s king exposed from the very first move.

Black has several easy punishments: playing …d5 to attack the g4 pawn, or simply developing normally and capturing it with …Bxg4. Once the pawn is lost, White’s position is both weaker and behind in development.

Despite this, the Grob occasionally finds success in blitz games, where surprise and psychological pressure matter more than long-term strategy. Its shock value can throw off unprepared players. 

However, in classical games, the Grob is a disaster waiting to happen. Most grandmasters consider it an insult to opening principles—fun for casual play, but worthless in serious matches.

5. Clemenz Opening (1.h3)

The Clemenz Opening (1.h3) may not be as dramatic as Barnes or Grob, but it’s equally ineffective. The move does virtually nothing: it prevents Black from playing …Bg4 or …Ng4, but neither of those threats exists on move one. By pushing the h-pawn, White wastes a crucial tempo and hands the initiative to Black.

Even worse, 1.h3 slightly weakens the g3 square and loosens White’s kingside defenses. Black can simply play …d5 or …e5, taking control of the center without challenge. White then spends the next moves trying to develop while already behind in space.

Like Ware and Amar, Clemenz rarely loses instantly—but it sets you on the wrong path from the start. In serious games, masters never touch it. At best, it’s a casual curiosity; at worst, it’s a guaranteed way to start with an inferior position.

Why Blitz Games Sometimes “Hide” Bad Openings

You might wonder: “If Barnes or Grob are so bad, why do I still see them online?” The answer is simple: blitz games. In fast formats like 3+0 or 5+0, opponents have little time to calculate. That means even bad openings can work if your opponent doesn’t react correctly. 

For example, Grob’s Attack has surprise value—if your rival has never seen it, they might stumble into tactics. Similarly, the Bongcloud has become a meme weapon in bullet chess because the clock is often more dangerous than the position. 

But don’t be fooled: engines show that after 1.f3 or 1.g4, the evaluation plummets for White immediately. These openings only “work” because of the time factor, not because they’re good. 

So yes, you can try them for fun in online blitz, but in longer games, they’ll only teach you bad habits and set you back in your chess improvement.

Magnus Carlsen and the Psychology of Bad Openings

Even the world champion, Magnus Carlsen, has dabbled in meme openings. Why? Not because they’re good, but because psychology is part of chess. In online blitz, Carlsen has played the Bongcloud against strong opponents, even laughing while doing it. 

He once combined elements of the Barnes Opening with early king moves just to unsettle rivals. For Carlsen, it’s not about sound strategy—it’s about creating chaos in positions where his raw skill can shine. For fans, it’s entertainment. 

But here’s the key lesson: if Magnus uses a bad opening, it’s because he can recover with near-perfect play. For the average club player, these same openings mean starting every game with a built-in disadvantage. 

That’s why you’ll never see Carlsen or any other super-GM play them in classical events. They’re tricks, not tools. Psychology matters, but fundamentals win real games.

Openings to Play Instead of the Worst

If Barnes and Grob are the worst, what are better openings to play? Stick to the classics. For White, 1.e4 leads to rich systems like the Ruy López, Italian, and Scotch. 

For more strategic play, 1.d4 allows you to explore the Queen’s Gambit or Nimzo-Indian. If you like flexibility, try the English Opening (1.c4) or the Reti (1.Nf3)—both teach important concepts without being theory-heavy. 

For Black, instead of risky lines like the Latvian Gambit, focus on solid defenses such as the Caro-Kann, French, or Slav. These openings all emphasize the core principles: control the center, develop pieces, and secure king safety. 

The lesson is simple—choose openings that give you real chances to improve and win, not gimmicks. Save Barnes or Bongcloud for casual blitz streams. In serious play, good openings aren’t just safer—they’re far more fun because they lead to richer middlegames.

Conclusion: The Worst Opening in Chess Defined

After analyzing all five candidates, the Barnes Opening (1.f3) still stands as the worst opening in chess. It blocks a knight, weakens the king, and ignores the center—three critical mistakes rolled into one. Grob’s Attack, Amar, Ware, and Clemenz are also deeply flawed, but Barnes consistently gives Black the easiest path to an advantage.

That doesn’t mean you can never use them. In blitz games or casual play, bad openings can be funny or even catch opponents off guard. But if your goal is to grow as a chess player, avoid them. Instead, focus on sound openings that teach good habits.

Our Verdict: Barnes Opening is the king of bad openings. Save it for laughs in online blitz—but if you want to win, study the classics. Chess is hard enough without starting from behind.