I've had a fascination with this opening and the Polish Defense for a long time. I've actually played the Polish Defense with some success. It can morph into Benoni, French, Sicilian Kan and Old Indian type positions.

My question is on the Polish Opening. One would expect White would be able to eventually (middlegame) mobilize his center pawns (he often gets a majority) as in other hypermodern sorties. Yet I have almost never seen this occur in the Polish. Why not?

good move

well it has low chance to draw

I've been massacred with black during this opening. Never seen stuff like this before. I played Nf6, d6 etc. Later on in the game d6 appeared to be too passive. I lost so much space in the centre that all my pieces on top of eachother. I had a very strong opponent, but I've played better.... I think it's good to play d5 or e5 as one of the first moves if you're black. Otherwise..... my opponent played c4 and d4 and had a bit too much power in the centre.

It's good!

At time one would create a weak spot to lure the adversary into a trap. As a novice in the game I would avoid such an opening

i have met with it in a tournament, in the final round board 1 at the us amatuer east championship, the winner wins the section, and i won as black

I am just a beginner and would be more traditional

with even players who know the pitfalls involved with this opening i reckon black's advantage in development would beat white more than 50% of the time. 

One should play this if he really wants that element of suprise!

 quite more surprice attack,try 8.

It's best to play b4 or g4 early, before your opponent gets their knight out.

that's my opening.. its nice and surprising.. challenge me so i can show you

Chess_champion, if 1. b4 e5 then 2. Bb2 - taking the b4 pawn would be a stupid move because then 3. Bxe5 and now white is in good shape. Black cannot protect e5 pawn with the natural Nc6 because white can do b5. White is then forced to use a more awkward move.

This is a fun opening, I usually play it just to have fun.  Occasionally I play it in tournaments for surprise value and to mix it up a bit (e4 and d4 tend to get really monotonous).  Contrary to what most people think, it's a very strong opening with only one real weakness- development is slow for white.  Black's challenge is to use this time to coordinate a balanced attack.  If Black allows White sufficient time to fully develop, Black will be in a lot of trouble.

White's moves tend to be something like 2. Bb2, 3.a3, then the moves c4, d4(or d3 sometimes), e3, Nc3, Bd3/e2, Nf3/e2, Qc2, 0-0.

Given the military might of the Polish I would have to question such an opening.  And having a little polish blood I would think it even more true!

i like this move its a good beatdown and quick destroy move

I dont see what the point is when you only have a bishop a3 or b2 and the night just going out.but i really dont get why one move from a pawn is a good opening??? can anyone explain?

It is a fine opening if you are thinking of countering the moves of Na6 or Nc6 . . .  I prefer this opening.  I can show you all what I mean, just message me for an unranked game.

I think this a bad opening but for some players it can be useful