Answers.Body: <p>I really like it and have used it for a while. The biggest problem for me though is the complete lack of white bishop movement. I played like this <a href="https://www.chess.com/game/live/68154946291" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.chess.com/game/live/68154946291</a></p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2023-01-22T19:34:24.133Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2023-01-22T19:41:46.530Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2023-01-22T19:41:46.530Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Chaotic_jinx6
Answers.Body: <p>The Whale variation</p>
  <pre><code>[FEN &quot;&quot;]
  1.e4 e5 2. c4
  </code></pre>
  <p>is quite an offbeat opening. It shares obvious similarities with the English opening, and it sometimes transposes, but it has some serious drawbacks. The obvious one is the gaping hole it leaves on <code>d4</code>. Another one is that it leads to very closed positions, which intermediate players usually do not fin comfortable. This leads to inaccurate plans and rushing, which because of the dubious setup from white, usually ends up favoring black. The main one is that white does not have a threat, allowing black to immediately seize the initiative with <code>Nf6</code>.</p>
  <p>Let's address first the hole on <code>d4</code>. There are several setups to play around it, the most straightforward plan is to play <code>d3</code>, <code>Be3</code>, and <code>Ne2</code>. This overprotects the weakness and ensures better center control, but is awfully slow since <code>Bc5</code> essentially blocks everything, and severely neglects king safety (white's not gonna castle anytime soon). Another setup is to kingside fianchetto, and another is with <code>Be2</code>. They all have big drawbacks, since essentially white is playing an English opening with a way too early <code>e4</code> push. With somewhat accurate play for black (<code>Nf6</code> and <code>Bc5</code>, which are natural moves that they should consider), there really is no good solution for this.</p>
  <p>Here you have several sample lines that give an idea of why this opening should be avoided. For example, 1. e4 e5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bc5 4. d3 d6 is more than fine for black, with easy plans and development. This seems like a closed Sicilian gone wrong. Also, 1. e4 e5 2. c4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Be2 is pitiful, with white's only &quot;developed&quot; piece being completely shut behind the pawns. Black still has easy plans.</p>
  <p>Finally, let's address the issue of giving up the initiative. Since white is no making any threats with 2.c4, black is completely free to just play <code>Nf6</code> and <code>Bc5</code> in virtually all variations. Moreover, <code>d6</code> and <code>Bg4</code> is a very standard plan, as well as <code>Nc6</code> aiming for the hole in <code>d4</code>. Since the dark squared bishop is now outside the chain pawn, black has <code>e7</code> free for a knight, with Nf6-Ne7-Ng6 being a common reroute.</p>
  <p>This makes it a difficult variation to play if black makes reasonable moves. I would suggest to play the English opening, and steer the game into closed positions that will benefit from a timely <code>e4</code> push. For example: 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. e4, followed by <code>d3</code>.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2021-05-08T15:16:13.880Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2021-05-08T15:16:13.880Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Pablo S. Ocal
Body: <p>I am an early, intermediate in chess. I played the Whale Variation (1.e4 e5 2.c4) and won some games as White. But there is an issue when Black moves their knight to d4. I have a problem with it. Is the Whale Variation a proper opening to use?</p>
  <p>I would like to know your ideas about Whale Variation.</p>
  <pre><code>[Title &quot;The Whale Variation&quot;]
  [StartPly &quot;3&quot;]
  [FEN &quot;&quot;]
  
  1. e4 e5 2. c4
  </code></pre>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2021-05-08T09:24:12.463Z
Comments.Text: What's the whale variation?
Comments.UserDisplayName: David
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2021-05-08T10:12:41.880Z
Comments.Text: 1.e4 e5 2.c4 appears to be the Whale Variation, unless there's more than one.
Comments.UserDisplayName: D M
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2021-05-08T14:07:10.627Z
Comments.Text: When I play whale, the idea is to eventually transpose it into some line in the English opening. After all, in most lines of English, whilt pushes his e pawn to e5.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Zuriel
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2023-01-22T20:47:10.263Z
Comments.Text: Rule of thumb: all openings named after animals are bad.
Comments.UserDisplayName: RemcoGerlich
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2023-01-23T09:06:16.757Z
Comments.Text: Lichess Stockfish eval: -0.5. Usually I stand worse after three halfmoves :-)
Comments.UserDisplayName: Hauke Reddmann
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2023-01-23T09:41:59.660Z
Comments.Text: @RemcoGerlich's includes the Bird opening, even if it was not exactly named after an animal.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Evargalo
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2023-01-25T12:00:39.070Z
Comments.Text: @Evargalo I think that was part of the point. ;)
Comments.UserDisplayName: koedem
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2023-12-20T15:25:35.293Z
Comments.Text: It's not exactly a killer whale ..., but congrats for wiinning with it! The d pawn is too weak imho, needing protection by major pieces all the time, binding attacking resources.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Chess Maps
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2024-05-17T05:55:30.813Z
Comments.Text: I found this list online.  It doesn't even include the Hippopotamus.  https://www.chess.com/blog/Wintanna/chess-openings-named-after-animals
Comments.UserDisplayName: Noam D. Elkies
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2024-05-17T07:29:21.057Z
Comments.Text: @RemcoGerlich Uh... but people are technically animals too, so does that mean openings named after grandmasters are bad?
Comments.UserDisplayName: Michael
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2024-05-17T10:01:18.743Z
Comments.Text: @Michael No. But if someone comes up with the Human in a Youtube video tomorrow, it'll be bad.
Comments.UserDisplayName: RemcoGerlich
Tags: <opening><analysis><learning>
Title: Is Whale Variation a successful opening?
ThreadText: # Is Whale Variation a successful opening?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2021-05-08)
  
  I am an early, intermediate in username_8. I played the Whale Variation (1.e4 e5 2.c4) and won some games as White. But there is an issue when Black moves their knight to d4. I have a problem with it. Is the Whale Variation a proper opening to use?
  
  I would like to know your ideas about Whale Variation.
  
  ```
  [Title "The Whale Variation"]
  [StartPly "3"]
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. e4 e5 2. c4
  
  ```
  
  **Tags:** opening, analysis, learning
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: What's the whale variation?  
  > **username_2**: 1.e4 e5 2.c4 appears to be the Whale Variation, unless there's more than one.  
  > **username_3**: When I play whale, the idea is to eventually transpose it into some line in the English opening. After all, in most lines of English, whilt pushes his e pawn to e5.  
  > **username_4**: Rule of thumb: all openings named after animals are bad.  
  > **username_5**: Lichess Stockfish eval: -0.5. Usually I stand worse after three halfmoves :-)  
  > **username_6**: @username_4's includes the Bird opening, even if it was not exactly named after an animal.  
  > **username_7**: @username_6 I think that was part of the point. ;)  
  > **username_8**: It's not exactly a killer whale ..., but congrats for wiinning with it! The d pawn is too weak imho, needing protection by major pieces all the time, binding attacking resources.  
  > **username_9**: I found this list online.  It doesn't even include the Hippopotamus.  https://www.username_8.com/blog/Wintanna/username_8-openings-named-after-animals  
  > **username_10**: @username_4 Uh... but people are technically animals too, so does that mean openings named after grandmasters are bad?  
  > **username_4**: @username_10 No. But if someone comes up with the Human in a Youtube video tomorrow, it'll be bad.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_12 on 2021-05-08. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
  
  The Whale variation
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  1.e4 e5 2. c4
  
  ```
  
  is quite an offbeat opening. It shares obvious similarities with the English opening, and it sometimes transposes, but it has some serious drawbacks. The obvious one is the gaping hole it leaves on `d4`. Another one is that it leads to very closed positions, which intermediate players usually do not fin comfortable. This leads to inaccurate plans and rushing, which because of the dubious setup from white, usually ends up favoring black. The main one is that white does not have a threat, allowing black to immediately seize the initiative with `Nf6`.
  
  Let's address first the hole on `d4`. There are several setups to play around it, the most straightforward plan is to play `d3`, `Be3`, and `Ne2`. This overprotects the weakness and ensures better center control, but is awfully slow since `Bc5` essentially blocks everything, and severely neglects king safety (white's not gonna castle anytime soon). Another setup is to kingside fianchetto, and another is with `Be2`. They all have big drawbacks, since essentially white is playing an English opening with a way too early `e4` push. With somewhat accurate play for black (`Nf6` and `Bc5`, which are natural moves that they should consider), there really is no good solution for this.
  
  Here you have several sample lines that give an idea of why this opening should be avoided. For example, 1. e4 e5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bc5 4. d3 d6 is more than fine for black, with easy plans and development. This seems like a closed Sicilian gone wrong. Also, 1. e4 e5 2. c4 Nf6 3. d3 Bc5 4. Be2 is pitiful, with white's only "developed" piece being completely shut behind the pawns. Black still has easy plans.
  
  Finally, let's address the issue of giving up the initiative. Since white is no making any threats with 2.c4, black is completely free to just play `Nf6` and `Bc5` in virtually all variations. Moreover, `d6` and `Bg4` is a very standard plan, as well as `Nc6` aiming for the hole in `d4`. Since the dark squared bishop is now outside the chain pawn, black has `e7` free for a knight, with Nf6-Ne7-Ng6 being a common reroute.
  
  This makes it a difficult variation to play if black makes reasonable moves. I would suggest to play the English opening, and steer the game into closed positions that will benefit from a timely `e4` push. For example: 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. e4, followed by `d3`.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_11 on 2023-01-22. Score: 0
  
  I really like it and have used it for a while. The biggest problem for me though is the complete lack of white bishop movement. I played like this <https://www.username_8.com/game/live/68154946291>
  
  
  ---
  
  