([Chess])

The Vulture is an [chess openings|opening] for Black devised and [chess analysis|analyzed] by [International Master|IM] [Stefan Bucker], and seemingly designed to convince an [insecurity|insecure] opponent that the [laws of chess|laws] and principles of chess with which he thought he was so familiar have been temporarily [antigravity|suspended].

The first moves are as follows:
1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 c5
2.d5 Ne4[chess notation|!?]

+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| r  | n  | b  | q  | k  | b  |    | r  |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ 
| p  | p  |    | p  | p  | p  | p  | p  |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    | 
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|    |    | p  | P  |    |    |    |    | 
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|    |    | P  |    | n  |    |    |    | 
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
|    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    | 
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
| P  | P  |    |    | P  | P  | P  | P  | 
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+ 
| R  | N  | B  | Q  | K  | B  | N  | R  |
+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+

The movement of the [knight] into the centre squares of the [chessboard|board] gives the opening its name, with Bucker comparing it somewhat [melodrama|melodramatically] to the flight of a vulture. This move violates one of the more important [axioms] of [chess opening theory], namely that one should avoid moving the same piece more than once before [development] is completed. Not only that, but Black moves the knight into a position where it will almost certainly be [attacked] and have to move a third time, resulting in a further [loss of time]. Around about now, a White player of overly [Euclidean] or [Aristotelian] [karma|tendencies], and without a refined sense of [oxymoron|chess humour], will be releasing dangerous [stress chemicals] into the [electrolytic] soup between his [synapses].

Joking aside, the move is [not as bad as it looks], and has brought me numerous sucesses in [tournament play]. The Black knight which has moved to e4 is preparing to transfer to the d6 square, where, although it will hinder the development of black's [queenside] pieces for a few moves, it is actually [piece placement|placed] far more strongly that it was on f6, and controls several of the [key squares] on the board (particulary f5 and b5, where black will be hoping to make pawn [breakthrough]s). Bucker also defends the move on [chess opening theory|theoretical] grounds, stating that White has weakened his position by advancing his pawns in the centre so early, and particularly that he has weakened the [The Dragon Variation|long black diagonal] from a1 to h8, which Black will exploit by [fianchetto|fianchettoing] his [the bisop|bishop] on g7 without the hindrance of a knight on f6 blocking its [firepower]. He also makes the valid point that the [speed|loss of time] involved in [repositioning] the knight is not as serious as it seems, because the position in the centre is [Closed and Open Positions|closed].

Bucker's analysis in his book [The Vulture And Related Systems] is not always [rigorous] and [objective], and I have gotten into trouble on one occasion through following his [fantasies|recommendations] without performing my own [analysis] first. However, he gives many examples of tournament practice in this opening, and takes the role of an [evangelist] trying to spread the good word. [IMHO|In his opinion], the [chess] world does not take his opening seriously because, well, [it looks silly]. In my experience, the Vulture is quite playable, and gives a great [psychological advantage] right from the beginning, as [no one ever expects it]. However, Black must never forget that he is playing an [experimental] opening, and that he is liable to get [crushed] in short order if he makes even a minor mistake.

The Vulture (thing)