Polish: 1...d5 2.Bb2

Polish: 1...d5 2.Bb2

Definition

The move order 1.b4 d5 2.Bb2 is the main line of the Polish Opening (also called the Sokolsky or Orang-Utan). White begins with the flank pawn thrust 1.b4, staking out space on the queenside and preparing to fianchetto the bishop. Black replies with the principled central strike 1…d5, after which White completes the opening idea with 2.Bb2, placing the bishop on the long a1–h8 diagonal.

Purpose and Basic Ideas

• Pressure on the long diagonal. From b2 the bishop eyes the key e5-square and often supports an eventual e2–e4 advance or queenside expansion with a2–a4.
• Queenside space gain. The pawn on b4 can advance to b5 to harass a knight on c6 or secure space for a later c-pawn push.
• Psychological weapon. Because the Polish is rare at master level, it can sidestep an opponent’s opening preparation and transpose into unfamiliar structures.
• Central counterplay for Black. With 1…d5, Black immediately claims the centre, often following up with …Nf6, …e6, and …c5 to build a solid, classical pawn duo.

Strategic Themes

1. Control of e5.

   If Black ever plays …e5 too early, the b2-bishop, possibly combined with a knight on f3, can exert strong pressure. Conversely, if Black prevents e2–e4, White may switch to c2–c4 and b4–b5 queenside play.

2. Pawn structure asymmetry.

   The flank pawn on b4 invites Black to open the a- or c-files with …a5 or …c5. Resulting pawn structures resemble certain Queen’s Gambit Declined or English Opening positions—but with pieces on unexpected squares.

3. Piece activity vs. central solidity.

   White’s pieces can become very active on the wings, but if Black establishes a classical centre with pawns on d5 and e6 (or e5), White must prove that early activity outweighs the slight neglect of the centre.

Historical Background

The name “Polish Opening” dates back to early 20th-century analysis by Polish masters, notably Savielly Tartakower. It is also called the Sokolsky Opening after Ukrainian master Alexey Sokolsky, who published an influential 1963 monograph on 1.b4. The whimsical nickname Orang-Utan stems from the famous story of 1924 New York, where Tartakower allegedly asked the Bronx Zoo’s orang-utan for opening advice before playing 1.b4 against Géza Maróczy.

Illustrative Games

• Sokolsky – Flohr, Kiev 1933. A classic demonstration of rapid queenside expansion: 1.b4 d5 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.b5!?. White’s initiative forced Black into a passive defence.
• Spassky – Fischer, Mar del Plata 1960. Though Fischer eventually won, the game shows how the bishop on b2 can generate mid-game tactics along the long diagonal.

Typical Tactical Motifs

• Diagonal skewers. A lurking bishop on b2 often pins a knight on f6 to the rook on h8 after an eventual e5 pawn break.
• c2–c4 breaks. Opening the c-file can expose Black’s queen or rook on d8/d5 to tactical ideas with a rook lift to c1.
• b4–b5 pawn lever. When Black has a knight on c6, b5 can chase it away, sometimes winning time to play c4 or e4.

Modern Usage and Engine Evaluation

Top grandmasters rarely employ 1.b4 in classical events, but it appears in rapid and blitz. Players such as Richard Rapport, Baadur Jobava, and Hikaru Nakamura have used the line as a surprise weapon. Engines give Black a small but stable edge (≈ +0.20 to +0.40) after best play, yet practical chances are abundant because many opponents are unfamiliar with the subtleties.

Interesting Facts

• In some databases, 1.b4 is coded A00—the very first entry in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings—making it literally the opening that comes before all others.
• The British correspondence champion IM Keith Arkell once remarked that the best way to refute 1.b4 is to play Black—highlighting the provocative nature of the move.
• Because “Polish” in English also denotes a nationality, newcomers sometimes confuse the name with the “Polish Defence” (1.d4 b5), which is the mirror image of 1.b4 from Black’s perspective.

When to Use It

If you are an aggressive, creative player looking to pull an opponent out of booked mainlines, or if you enjoy atypical pawn structures with long-diagonal dynamics, the Polish with 1.b4 d5 2.Bb2 can be an excellent addition to your repertoire. Be prepared, however, to justify your flank play in the face of a solid central setup by Black.