Answers.Body: <p>To answer your question:</p>
  
  <p>Experience has shown that it is a good idea in the opening phase of the game to:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>develop minor pieces (bishop/knight) quickly</li>
  <li>and to occupy the centre (squares e4, d4, e5, d5 and thereabout) with pawns and/or to attack the centre with minor pieces</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>In this sense Nf3 is the better (and by far more popular) move. It attacks central squares (d4 and e5) and thereby prevents black from occupying the center with e5 immediately and potentially could also support a white pawn push to d4.</p>
  
  <p>Na3 on the other hand does little to get hold of the center and in addition (as with any knight on the rim), it has fewer squares to go to: 4 instead of 8.</p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>Occupying the center is important among others because it can:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>limit the space of your opponent</li>
  <li>allow pieces stationed around there to quickly reach other parts of the board as needed</li>
  </ul>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>For a novice player the first move(s) don't matter. It is highly unlikely that you win/lose a game because of the difference between 1. Nf3 and 1. Na3, rather because of some tactics later on. That's why it is recommend for beginners to focus on tactics first.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-11-15T02:27:17.800Z
Answers.Text: Please upvote my answer below if I am thinking in the right direction.  I am a new player so it will really inspire me .
Answers.UserDisplayName: Akash Roy
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-11-13T18:24:02.007Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-11-13T18:24:02.007Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: user1583209
Answers.Body: <p><code>1. Nf3</code> is used to instantly get a grip on the center. It for example answers <code>1. ... e5</code> with <code>2. Nxe5</code>. <code>1. Na3</code> on the other hand, does not develop the piece towards the center, giving Black an easy opportunity to attempt to control the center. A better move would be <code>1. Nc3</code>, still having control on the center.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-11-13T18:11:32.133Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-11-13T18:11:32.133Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Lourens Dijkstra
Answers.Body: <p>Possibly with <code>1.Nf3</code> , player has the chance to transpose the game into a large number of other openings which usually start with <code>1.e4</code> , <code>1.d4</code> or <code>1.c4</code> . If Black is not careful, there is the risk of running unprepared, according to me, into a highly tactical opening, e.g. after <code>1.Nf3 c5</code> White can play <code>2.e4</code> leading to the  Sicilian Defense (Mainline) . Other common transpositions are to various lines of the Queen's Gambit Declined (<code>1.Nf3 d5</code> <code>2.d4 Nf6</code> <code>3.c4</code>) or the Catalan Opening (<code>1.Nf3 Nf6</code> <code>2.g3 d5</code> <code>3.Bg2 e6</code> <code>4.0-0</code> <code>Be7 5.c4</code>). </p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-11-15T02:25:35.710Z
Answers.Text: Please upvote if I am thinking in the right direction.  I am a novice so it will help
Answers.UserDisplayName: Akash Roy
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-11-15T14:10:00.630Z
Answers.Text: True in some sense, but hardly relevant for novice players.
Answers.UserDisplayName: user1583209
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-11-18T12:16:10.147Z
Answers.Text: I am talking about myself @user1583209 . I have built this theory and if I am thinking in right direction,  it will be kind of you if you upvote . It can motivate me too.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Akash Roy
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-11-14T03:29:35.097Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2018-11-14T03:29:35.097Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Akash Roy
Answers.Body: <p>Statistics show that with 2200+ players
  Nf3 wins about 55.5% of the time
  with draws = 1/2 and win = 1 ,  loss =  0 </p>
  
  <p>And
  Na3 wins 68% of the time </p>
  
  <p>But with 2400+ it goes to 
  55%
  75% respectively</p>
  
  <p>at 2600+  nobody plays Na3
  and Nf3 drops to 54% winning </p>
  
  <p>YMMV</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-01-20T03:31:57.613Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-01-20T03:31:57.613Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: edwina oliver
Body: <p>I generally play 1.Nf3 as white . I actually wonder whether there would be any major difference if I play 1.Na3 instead of 1.Nf3 . I am a novice player . An illustration will definitely help me in understanding the reason behind this. </p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2020-01-20T03:38:06.297Z
Comments.Text: Is there a typo here in that it should be 1.Nc3 not 1.Na3?
Comments.UserDisplayName: Allure
Tags: <opening>
Title: Knight's opening move
ThreadText: # Knight's opening move
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2018-11-13)
  
  I generally play 1.Nf3 as white . I actually wonder whether there would be any major difference if I play 1.Na3 instead of 1.Nf3 . I am a novice player . An illustration will definitely help me in understanding the reason behind this.
  
  **Tags:** opening
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Is there a typo here in that it should be 1.Nc3 not 1.Na3?  
  
  ---
  
  ## 4 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2018-11-13. Score: 5 | Accepted answer
  
  To answer your question:
  
  Experience has shown that it is a good idea in the opening phase of the game to:
  
  * develop minor pieces (bishop/knight) quickly
  * and to occupy the centre (squares e4, d4, e5, d5 and thereabout) with pawns and/or to attack the centre with minor pieces
  
  In this sense Nf3 is the better (and by far more popular) move. It attacks central squares (d4 and e5) and thereby prevents black from occupying the center with e5 immediately and potentially could also support a white pawn push to d4.
  
  Na3 on the other hand does little to get hold of the center and in addition (as with any knight on the rim), it has fewer squares to go to: 4 instead of 8.
  
  ---
  
  Occupying the center is important among others because it can:
  
  * limit the space of your opponent
  * allow pieces stationed around there to quickly reach other parts of the board as needed
  
  ---
  
  For a novice player the first move(s) don't matter. It is highly unlikely that you win/lose a game because of the difference between 1. Nf3 and 1. Na3, rather because of some tactics later on. That's why it is recommend for beginners to focus on tactics first.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Please upvote my answer below if I am thinking in the right direction.  I am a new player so it will really inspire me .  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2018-11-13. Score: 4
  
  `1. Nf3` is used to instantly get a grip on the center. It for example answers `1. ... e5` with `2. Nxe5`. `1. Na3` on the other hand, does not develop the piece towards the center, giving Black an easy opportunity to attempt to control the center. A better move would be `1. Nc3`, still having control on the center.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_0 on 2018-11-14. Score: 1
  
  Possibly with `1.Nf3` , player has the chance to transpose the game into a large number of other openings which usually start with `1.e4` , `1.d4` or `1.c4` . If Black is not careful, there is the risk of running unprepared, according to me, into a highly tactical opening, e.g. after `1.Nf3 c5` White can play `2.e4` leading to the Sicilian Defense (Mainline) . Other common transpositions are to various lines of the Queen's Gambit Declined (`1.Nf3 d5` `2.d4 Nf6` `3.c4`) or the Catalan Opening (`1.Nf3 Nf6` `2.g3 d5` `3.Bg2 e6` `4.0-0` `Be7 5.c4`).
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Please upvote if I am thinking in the right direction.  I am a novice so it will help  
  > **username_2**: True in some sense, but hardly relevant for novice players.  
  > **username_0**: I am talking about myself @username_2 . I have built this theory and if I am thinking in right direction,  it will be kind of you if you upvote . It can motivate me too.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2020-01-20. Score: 0
  
  Statistics show that with 2200+ players
  Nf3 wins about 55.5% of the time
  with draws = 1/2 and win = 1 , loss = 0
  
  And
  Na3 wins 68% of the time
  
  But with 2400+ it goes to
  55%
  75% respectively
  
  at 2600+ nobody plays Na3
  and Nf3 drops to 54% winning
  
  YMMV
  
  
  ---
  
  