Polish Opening

Polish Opening is a chess opening with the ECO code A00. It goes 1. b4. White opens with 1. b4 (the Polish move). After 1 move it is Black to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. b4 – White plays the pawn to b4

About the Polish Opening

White starts with 1.b4, an offbeat flank move. The idea is Bb2 aiming at e5 and space on the queenside.

• Bb2 pressures e5 and the long diagonal.
• The b4 pawn is loose; ...e5 with ...Bxb4 can win it.
• It is rare at top level; it works best as a surprise.

Related openings

• Continues with: Polish Opening, with d5 – adds 1... d5
• Continues with: Polish Opening: Birmingham Gambit – adds 1... c5
• Continues with: Polish Opening: Bugayev Advance Variation – adds 1... e5 2. Bb2 f6 3. b5
• Continues with: Polish Opening: Bugayev Attack – adds 1... e5 2. a3
• Continues with: Polish Opening: Czech Defense – adds 1... e5 2. Bb2 d6
• Continues with: Polish Opening: Dutch Defense – adds 1... f5
• Continues with: Polish Opening: Grigorian Variation – adds 1... Nc6
• Continues with: Polish Opening: Karniewski Variation – adds 1... Nh6
• Related line: Polish Opening: Baltic Defense (1. b4 d5 2. Bb2 Bf5)
• Related line: Polish Opening: Birmingham Gambit (1. b4 c5)
• Related line: Polish Opening: Bugayev Advance Variation (1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 f6 3. b5)
• Related line: Polish Opening: Bugayev Attack (1. b4 e5 2. a3)
• Related line: Polish Opening: Czech Defense (1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 d6)
• Related line: Polish Opening: Dutch Defense (1. b4 f5)

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