King's Pawn Opening: Speers

This offbeat opening features an early queen sortie, targeting the opponent's kingside and potentially catching them off guard.

The opening is named after the American chess player, Walter Penn Shipley, who used the pseudonym "Speers" when he played this opening in correspondence games. It is an unusual and somewhat dubious opening, as it involves moving the queen early in the game, which can lead to loss of tempo if the queen is attacked.

The main idea behind this opening is to put pressure on the opponent's kingside, particularly the f7 square, which is often a weak point in the early stages of the game. However, the opening can be easily countered by developing the knight to f6, attacking the queen and forcing it to move again.

The opening is not considered to be particularly strong, as it violates several opening principles, such as developing minor pieces before the queen and not moving the same piece multiple times in the opening. As a result, it is rarely seen in high-level play and is more commonly encountered in casual or amateur games.

Despite its drawbacks, this opening can catch an unprepared opponent off guard and lead to interesting and unbalanced positions. Players who enjoy unconventional openings and are willing to take risks may find this opening appealing. However, it is important to be well-prepared for the potential pitfalls and to have a solid understanding of the resulting middlegame positions.