Sodium Attack
Also known as Durkin Opening
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Statistics from Lichess
156,788 games: White 50.0% / Draw 4.2% / Black 45.8%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 57,56558K | ||
| 34,88035K | ||
| 14,79615K | ||
| 14,44014K | ||
| 7,9217,921 | ||
| 7,2787,278 | ||
| 5,1585,158 | ||
| 3,9453,945 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026
Engine evaluation
−0.61 Black is slightly better
Best play: 1... e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nf6 4. Nb5 Nc6 5. Qf4 d6 6. e4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Sodium Attack (ECO A00, Flank Openings) is a chess opening that starts 1. Na3.
In 156,788 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.0%, Black 45.8% and 4.2% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 1…e5, in 37% of those games.
It branches into 3 named variations; the most played are Sodium Attack: Durkin Gambit and Sodium Attack: Chenoboskion Variation.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Sodium Attack
1…d5 scores best for Black: 48.8%, with Black winning 46.7% and White 49.2% of 35K games. The most played, 1…e5, scores 48.6% in 58K games, and 1…e6 scores lowest: 46.0%. Stockfish's first choice is 1…e5.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Variations (3)
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Sodium Attack (A00)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/sodium-attack