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Polish Opening
The Polish Opening begins after the move 1. b4. It is one of White's most unusual first moves, and is a favourite of players who like to set problems early and catch unprepared opponents in a tricky main line.
- For white
- Unorthodox
- Provocative
Written by:
The Essentials
- Early moves:
- 1. b4
- Colour:
- Played by White
- Style:
- Unorthodox and provocative
- Difficulty to learn:
- Moderate
- Named after:
- Its Polish name is linked to Polish players of the 1920s and 1930s, while its other names come from Alexey Sokolsky and Savielly Tartakower.
- Trivia:
- The official book of New York 1924 says Tartakower dedicated a game to Suzan, the orangutan he met at the Bronx Zoo, and lost it.
- Variations:
- Czech Defence. Bugayev Attack. Baltic Defence. Outflank Variation.
- Good for:
- BlitzRapid
Best suited for rating
1200-2000
Why play the Polish Opening?
The Polish Opening is a trick, and the b4-pawn is the bait.
The b-pawn grabs space on the queenside and makes room for Bb2, which aims the bishop down the long diagonal at e5 and Black's kingside.
Against 1... e5 2. Bb2, Black usually takes the pawn with 2... Bxb4, and 3. Bxe5 trades it for a centre pawn while the bishop hits g7.
That main line is where the opening earns its keep. Precise defence gives Black a small advantage, but one careless developing move can hand White a comfortable position.
The cost is the centre. If White's kingside lags behind, Black can settle a pawn on d5 and a knight on e4, and those positions are hard to play even when they are objectively close.
The cost shows against strong players, who defend accurately and leave White slightly worse, which is why 1. b4 is so rare. In the ...d5 lines and the Bugayev Attack with a3, the b4-pawn also needs looking after once ...a5 hits it.
The reward is practical. Few opponents meet 1. b4 often enough to know the main line well, and one wrong step can leave them worse from the start.
Try the Polish Opening yourself!
Why the Polish Opening is good with the:
Pitfalls - In the main line, natural developing moves by Black can already hand White a comfortable position.
Long diagonal - The bishop on b2 controls e5 and eyes Black's kingside, so ...e5 needs care from the very first move.
Central majority - When Black takes on b4, White takes on e5 and keeps two central pawns against one.
Suited for - Well-prepared tricksters who know their main line and enjoy setting problems from the first move.
Why the Polish Opening is good with the white pieces
Pitfalls - In the main line, natural developing moves by Black can already hand White a comfortable position.
Long diagonal - The bishop on b2 controls e5 and eyes Black's kingside, so ...e5 needs care from the very first move.
Central majority - When Black takes on b4, White takes on e5 and keeps two central pawns against one.
Suited for - Well-prepared tricksters who know their main line and enjoy setting problems from the first move.
Why the Polish Opening is good with the black pieces
Light-square grip - With ...d5 and a knight on e4, Black can take over the centre while White's kingside pieces are still at home.
Development lead - After the trades on b4 and e5, Black has two minor pieces out against White's one.
Upper hand - With precise play in the main line, Black can expect a small advantage.
Suited for - Alert players who are ready to punish a provocative first move and stay calm against the early tricks.
Strategy
Typical plans, pawn breaks, and key squares.
White's pawn breaks
White's two centre pawns against one support c3, e3 and d4, or c4 when allowed, to grip the dark squares.
Black's pawn breaks
Black claims the light squares with ...d5 and undermines White's dark-square grip with ...c5, though breaking through on d4 takes time.
Key squares
The fight for the central squares and tactics around the g7-pawn often decide the game.
The long diagonal
White controls the long diagonal for now, but Black's lead in development lets the dark-squared bishop return to f6 via e7.
Traps and tactics
Three traps on the long diagonal and the dark squares.
Themes
The knight on e4
A black knight on e4, backed by the d5-pawn, is hard to remove without f3 or d3, and both loosen White's position. Many games turn on whether White can live with it.
The long diagonal
White's bishop on the a1-h8 diagonal is the piece that sets the tricks. A loose g7-pawn or rook in the corner can decide the game before the middlegame begins.
Two against one
After the trades on b4 and e5, White has two centre pawns against one. If d4 arrives safely, the central dark squares belong to White for the rest of the game.
Time against structure
Black is ahead in development, while White has the better centre. If Black lets the moment pass, White's majority and bishop take over.
History
The history of the Polish Opening, from its origins to modern play.
1868
Early bird
Arthur Skipworth opens with 1. b4 against Cuthbertson in the Challenge Cup, the oldest game with the move that Edward Winter has found.
1893
Vienna lesson
Carl Schlechter beats Fleissig's 1. b4 in a quick offhand game in Vienna, a game long misdated to 1895.
1924
The Orangutan
Savielly Tartakower plays 1. b4 against Géza Maróczy at New York, and after a visit to the zoo he christens it the Orangutan. Alekhine notes that White reveals his intentions before knowing Black's.
1963
Sokolsky's book
Alexey Sokolsky publishes a monograph on 1. b4, and the opening takes his name in much of the chess world.
1974
Larsen's weapon
Bent Larsen beats Arturo Pomar and Walter Browne with 1. b4 in the same tournament at Las Palmas.
2020s
Still a surprise
Magnus Carlsen plays 1. b4 three times at the 2021 FTX Crypto Cup. Engines rate it as roughly level but less testing than the main first moves, and it remains a rare guest at the top.
Model Games
Games that show the Polish from both sides.
FAQ
The Polish Opening begins after the move 1. b4. White grabs queenside space and prepares Bb2, aiming the bishop at e5 and down the long diagonal toward Black's kingside.
No. 1. b4 pushes a wing pawn instead of claiming the centre, against the principles beginners are still learning, and the main line also demands exact moves.
It is playable but risky. Engines rate 1. b4 as roughly level, yet precise defence gives Black a small advantage, so its value lies in the traps and the surprise.
White uses the b-pawn as bait for the long diagonal. If Black takes it, White takes on e5 and keeps an extra centre pawn, with the bishop aimed at g7.
It is another name for the Polish Opening, 1. b4. Savielly Tartakower gave it the name after a visit to the zoo during the New York tournament of 1924.
It is 1. b4 e5 2. a3, protecting the b4-pawn instead of letting Black take it. White gives up the centre for queenside space, and Black usually answers with ...d5, later hitting the pawn with ...a5.
Both put the bishop on b2 early to control the long diagonal. The Nimzo-Larsen starts with 1. b3, which keeps the pawn out of reach, while 1. b4 offers it to gain space and set traps.
There is no single best line. Take the pawn with 1... e5 2. Bb2 Bxb4 for the sharpest fight, build a classical centre with 1... d5, or question the pawn at once with the Outflank Variation.
Savielly Tartakower, Boris Spassky, Bent Larsen, Tony Miles, Vassily Ivanchuk, Magnus Carlsen, and Hikaru Nakamura have all used it.
Choose Bird's Opening if you want a kingside setup with f4 and attacking chances against the king. Choose the Polish Opening if you prefer queenside space, the long diagonal, and early tricks in a main line.