Openings Flank openings
Polish Opening (1.b4): 1...e5, 1...d5, a Trap and Stats by Rating
1.b4 grabs queenside space and prepares Bb2 toward e5 and g7. It is also known as the Sokolsky or the Orangutan. The b4 pawn is loose, so Black can gain time by attacking it, but the opening sets real problems for players who rarely meet it.
A00Polish Opening
Games from this position (1600–1999): 34k
- 1.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36% | 12k | ||
| 22% | 7,573 | ||
| 11% | 3,694 | ||
| 10% | 3,389 | ||
| 4% | 1,463 | ||
| 4% | 1,436 | ||
| 3% | 993 | ||
| 3% | 885 | ||
| 2% | 597 | ||
| 2% | 584 | ||
| 1% | 403 | ||
| 0.9% | 295 |
Plans for both sides
White
- Against 1...e5, 2.Bb2 hits e5 at once; after 2...Bxb4 3.Bxe5 White has traded the b-pawn for the e-pawn.
- a3 or b5 keeps the pawn when Black attacks it with ...a5, or with ...c6 and ...Qb6.
- e3, Nf3, c4 and Be2 complete the setup; the b2 bishop is your key piece.
Black
- 1...e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 is the most direct line; after 3.Bxe5, play 3...Nf6 to block the diagonal.
- 1...e5 with ...d6 or ...f6 keeps the center and blunts the b2 bishop.
- 1...d5 with ...Nf6, ...e6 or ...Bf5 is a solid, quiet answer.
Advertisement
Polish Opening (1.b4) at each rating
How often the position after 1.b4 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 8,5210.3% | 1...e545% | |
| 1200–1599 | 28k0.5% | 1...e542% | |
| 1600–1999 | 34k0.5% | 1...e536% | |
| 2000+ | 7,5080.4% | 1...e531% | |
| All | 78k0.5% | 1...e539% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
Black takes the b-pawn and White takes the e-pawn. Black develops with ...O-O and ...d6 or ...Nc6.
132 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 60%, 8% were drawn, Black won 33%.
Show on the board: 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 Nf6 4.c4Black holds e5 with a pawn and fianchettoes; White expands on the queenside.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 d6 3.c4 Nf6 4.e3 g6Black holds e5 with the f-pawn and builds a big center; White hits it with e3, c4 and d4.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 f6 3.b5 d5 4.e3 Be6White protects b4 first; Black takes the center with ...d5.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.b4 e5 2.a3 d5 3.Bb2 Bd6 4.e3 Nf6A quiet line: Black develops normally and White uses b5 to gain space.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.b4 d5 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.b5 c5
Common traps
3...Nc6? 4.Bxg7
After 2...Bxb4 3.Bxe5 the g7 pawn hangs. 3...Nf6 blocks the diagonal; the natural 3...Nc6? loses g7, and the h8 rook is next. White scores about 80% after 3...Nc6.
In our data, the last move of this line was played in 580 games.
Show on the board: 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 Nc6 4.Bxg7Advertisement
At club level
After 1...e5 2.Bb2, players at 2000+ most often take with 2...Bxb4, but below 1200 2...Nc6 is the top reply. After 2...Bxb4 3.Bxe5, nine in ten at 2000+ play 3...Nf6, while below 1200 only about one in eight does, and White scores about 67% there. White scores about 53% after 1.b4 overall.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.
Related openings
- Réti Opening (1.Nf3)
1.Nf3
- English Opening
1.c4
- Hungarian Opening (1.g3)
1.g3
- Bird Opening
1.f4
- Nimzo-Larsen Attack
1.b3
- King’s Indian Attack
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3