user-1: I have heard the Bongcloud opening mentioned on chess.com, but I have never heard of that. Is this a real opening, and if so, what is it?

user924: The Bongcloud is named that based of a chess.com user named Lenny_Bongcloud ( https://www.chess.com/nl/member/lenny_bongcloud ) who used it religiously in thousands and thousands of games.
Andrew Fabbro then wrote a hilarious opening book parody named Winning With The Bongcloud (PDF: https://i.4pcdn.org/tg/1401479151063.pdf ) that catapulted Lenny_Bongcloud's obscure opening into popularity at places like Reddit's Anarchy Chess subreddit.
The rest is history.

user-1: The Bongcloud is an opening meant to

Give your opponent a chance

Show contempt for your opponent(if your opponent is terrible at chance)

Create a lasting psychological effect, thus generating winning chances against much better players.


No, the Bongcloud is not a real opening, but it has a close cousin called the 'King David's opening'.

e4 c5 2. Ke2[book move!?]


user19877: The Bongcloud opening is a joke opening that is meant to give your opponent a chance, and also it is meant to show contempt for your opponent. You play it because you think you are much stronger than they are. It is, obviously, not a good opening.
GM Hikaru Nakamura is one of the jokesters, who plays this from time to time. There are multiple YouTube videos showing him playing this. Here is one.
 [FEN ""]
 
 1. e4 e5 2. Ke2? {The Bongcloud!}


-1: <p>I have heard the Bongcloud opening mentioned on chess.com, but I have never heard of that. Is this a real opening, and if so, what is it?</p>
 924: <p>The Bongcloud is named that based of a chess.com user named Lenny_Bongcloud ( <a href="https://www.chess.com/nl/member/lenny_bongcloud" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.chess.com/nl/member/lenny_bongcloud</a> ) who used it religiously in thousands and thousands of games.</p>
<p>Andrew Fabbro then wrote a hilarious opening book parody named <em>Winning With The Bongcloud</em> (PDF: <a href="https://i.4pcdn.org/tg/1401479151063.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://i.4pcdn.org/tg/1401479151063.pdf</a> ) that catapulted Lenny_Bongcloud's obscure opening into popularity at places like Reddit's Anarchy Chess subreddit.</p>
<p>The rest is history.</p>
 -1: <p>The Bongcloud is an opening meant to</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Give your opponent a chance</p>
</li>
<li><p>Show contempt for your opponent(if your opponent is terrible at chance)</p>
</li>
<li><p>Create a lasting psychological effect, thus generating winning chances against much better players.</p>
</li>
</ol>
<p>No, the Bongcloud is not a real opening, but it has a close cousin called the 'King David's opening'.</p>
<ol>
<li>e4 c5 2. Ke2[book move!?]</li>
</ol>
 19877: <p>The Bongcloud opening is a joke opening that is meant to give your opponent a chance, and also it is meant to show contempt for your opponent. You play it because you think you are much stronger than they are. It is, obviously, not a good opening.</p>
<p>GM Hikaru Nakamura is one of the jokesters, who plays this from time to time. There are multiple YouTube videos showing him playing this. Here is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kttctaODjP0" rel="nofollow noreferrer">one</a>.</p>
<pre><code> [FEN &quot;&quot;]
 
 1. e4 e5 2. Ke2? {The Bongcloud!}
</code></pre>
