Ponderchess / Openings
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Opening
The Polish Opening in 3D
1.b4. White gains queenside space and prepares Bb2 against e5, accepting that the b4 pawn can become a target. Also called the Sokolsky.
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Polish Opening: Rooks Swap Line, move by move: b4 e6 Bb2 Nf6 b5 a6 a4 axb5 …
The white pieces
Put the bishop on b2, add e3 and Nf3, and use b5 or a4 to gain queenside space. Keep track of the b4 pawn, which can be hit by ...Bxb4, ...a5 or ...Qd6.
The black pieces
Take the centre with ...e5 or ...d5, attack b4 when it is loose, and blunt the b2 bishop with ...d6, ...f6 or a kingside fianchetto.
Look a little deeper · 01
The most direct reply is 1...e5, opening the bishop's diagonal toward b4. The main line runs 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 Nf6: White has traded the b-pawn for the e-pawn, and Black is ahead in development.
Look a little deeper · 02
White can defend the pawn with 2.a3 (the Bugayev Attack). Black can also protect e5 with 2...d6 (the Czech Defense) or 2...f6, against which 3.e4, the Tartakower Gambit, gives up the b4 pawn for quick development.
Look a little deeper · 03
Against 1...d5 or 1...Nf6, White plays Bb2, e3, Nf3 and often b5 to gain queenside space. Black frequently blunts the bishop with ...g6 and ...Bg7, as in the King's Indian Variation.
Polish Opening: Rooks Swap Line, move by move: b4 e6 Bb2 Nf6 b5 a6 a4 axb5 …
Keyboard: Space pauses, the arrow keys step. Gold arrows are White's moves, violet are Black's, red rays are threats, green shows support, blue shows plans.
