Of the twenty possible first moves in chess, author and grandmaster Edmar Mednis argues that 1.f3 is the worst.

[3] In his text on openings, Paul van der Sterren considered 1.f3 beneath mention by name: Then there are those moves with which White really tries to shoot himself in the foot, like 1.f3 or 1.g4.

Black can secure a comfortable advantage by the normal means – advancing central pawns and rapidly developing pieces to assert control over the centre.

If White plays poorly and leaves too many lines open against their king after 2.Kf2, they might be quickly checkmated.

1.Na3: Durkin 1.a3: Anderssen 1.b3: Nimzowitsch-Larsen 1.Nc3: Dunst 1.c3: Saragossa 1.d3: Mieses 1.e3: Van 't Kruijs 1.Nf3: Zukertort 1.f3: Barnes 1.g3: Benko 1.Nh3: Amar 1.h3: Clemenz