Bongcloud Opening
Beginner · set by White
The Bongcloud is 1.e4 e5 2.Ke2: White walks the king forward on move two. It breaks every opening principle, which is exactly why it became a meme.
In February 2021 Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura both played it in an online tournament game, and the Bongcloud went from joke to headline.
How the trap works
3 / 3
Ke2: the king blocks the bishop and the queen and gives up castling (engine: about −1.4).
1.2.
- ▸The king on e2 blocks the f1 bishop and the queen.
- ▸White can no longer castle, so the king stays in the centre.
- ▸Every tempo White spends fixing this is a tempo Black spends developing.
How to stop it
4 / 4
…d5! opens the centre right away (engine: about −1.5). Develop fast and aim at the king.
1.2.
Open the centre with …d5, develop knights and bishops quickly, and castle. The open lines will reach White’s king.
Do not get overexcited: a free tempo is an advantage, not a win. Keep developing.
Frequently asked questions
- Did Magnus Carlsen play the Bongcloud?
- Yes. In February 2021 Carlsen and Nakamura played 1.e4 e5 2.Ke2 Ke7 against each other in an online tournament and agreed a draw by repetition.
- Is the Bongcloud a real opening?
- It is legal and has a name, but it is objectively bad. Strong players use it only as a joke.
More traps
Does your next opponent play traps like this? Scout their recent games and find out in a minute.
Prepare for your opponent