The Double Bongcloud

The Double Bongcloud is a chess opening that involves moving the king to e2 (or e7 for black) on the second move, after playing e4 (or e5 for black) on the first move⁴. It's considered one of the worst openings in chess, as it exposes the king to danger and loses the right to castle⁴.

The sequence of moves is as follows:

1. e4 e5 2. Ke2 Ke7

This opening is known as the Double Bongcloud because both players move their kings on the second move¹²³⁵. This opening is considered self-destructive as it breaks practically all of the principles you're taught about chess openings from day one: it doesn't fight for the center, it leaves the king exposed and it wastes time, all while eliminating the possibility of castling and managing to impede the development of the bishop and queen¹.

Despite its reputation, the Double Bongcloud has been played by grandmasters like Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura in a game that was intentionally drawn by threefold repetition¹³⁵. This particular sequence they used is known as the "Hotbox Variation" of the Double Bongcloud¹³⁵.

Remember, chess is a game of strategy and every move has potential consequences. It's up to the player's judgment to decide whether a move aligns with their overall game strategy. The Double Bongcloud offers an unconventional approach to the game, but it also requires careful planning and execution¹²⁴.

1.e4 e5 2.Ke2? Ke7?!