1. b4 - Polish Opening or how to destroy your opponent with the 1st move
Hello everybody!
Yesterday I wrote about a trap in Polish Opening that is hard to spot and easy to use. (If anything, here's the link: https://www.chess.com/blog/p4yp4t/1-b4-invisible-trap). Surprisingly, many people liked this, and here I will fully analyze the move b4, how to play it for White and what to do for Black.
MAIN IDEAS
This move is used quite rarely, and here’s the idea:
Make a move that your opponent is not expecting, make a move that will throw him off theory. This task is usually pursued by two types of chess players: the first are those who prefer to play a position that is not the most optimal, but hope that the opponent understands it less well, the second are those who are too lazy to learn theory and prefer to “knock off the theory” of their opponent.
Second idea that comes out of the first:
Traps associated with the bishop's quick exit to the large diagonal and the greed of novice players who are waiting for the bait on b4. For example, one of the games at the second level went according to the following scenario: 1. b4 e6 2. Bb2 Bxb4 3. Bxg7 and Black loses at least a piece.
Very often they fall for this. This will be especially effective in Bullet. What’s up: even 1800 lose in this way pieces in rapid. Today I’ll show you an example of a couple of my games on lichess.org.
Why is it rarely used? I think many chess players will not like this move visually. Contradicts the usual recommendations given by trainers at the beginning of training.
However, this does not mean at all that this move is bad and White immediately loses. It's just that if Black plays correctly, they can equalize the game without any problems.
And believe me, it’s not very often that Black snatches a position.
TIP:
Before analyzing the opening, be sure to remember this tip.
Remember: do not defend the b4 pawn while Black's g7 pawn is weak. There's no point in wasting time on this. During the analysis of the opening, this advice will be often used.
VARIANTS:
1... e5
The most common and logical answer. Black also has answers d5, Kf6, c6, e6.
With the move e5, Black immediately puts an obstacle on the long diagonal for White’s bishop. Therefore this move is the best.
Anyone who has read the blog about the invisible trap already knows how to play in such cases. Be sure to bet Bb2. If the pawn on b4 is captured then we capture on e5. Then the basic theory goes further. Here it’s your choice where and how to go (except for the invisible trap). There is no special theory there.
There is also a continuation of f6, in which Black seeks to keep the pawn in the center and block the bishop on b2, but pays for this by weakening the position of the king.
For White there are different answers to 3... Nf6. You can play 4. c4, you can play 4. c3 and in different ways. But personally, I recommend you exactly 4. Nc3. Firstly, this is the same invisible trap. Secondly, on any Black move you can simply Rb1, Bg3 and simply develop.
The question arises: how to act on 2... Nc6? They attack the b4 pawn a second time while simultaneously defending their e5 pawn. This is one of the worst moves in this position. Black literally loses a pawn dramatically. I think you yourself will find how:
1... d5
This move can sometimes occur even more often than e5. What to do in this case? As usual, you need to play 2. Bb2. If Black responds with 2... Nf6 then we defend the pawn with 3. a3 and calmly develop. If they move e6 attacking the pawn, then we already use the tip that I gave you above. Pawn b4 does not have to be protected. If Black captures the b4 pawn, they will suffer the same fate as on the cover of the blog.
Stockfish 14 rates this position 6 points in favor of White. This means that it won’t be difficult for you to win. If Black covers the g7 pawn with Nf6, f6, e5 then we simply move either a3 or b5. Stockfish 14 recommends that you play a3 calmly, but I recommend being bold.
TIP:
It is advisable to play b5 if the b4 pawn is under attack. If your opponent plays a6 or c6, then under no circumstances exchange. Strengthen it with moves a4, e3, c4.
This is the whole theory for the move d5. Just put the bishop on b2, prepare the move b5 just in case and just develop with moves c4, e3, Nf3 and so on.
1... e6
The opponent is now threatening to capture the pawn on b4. Should we do b5 now? No need. Go straight Bb2. I think everyone understands why. Take another look at the blog cover. If Nf6 we also play: b5. And here is the complete theory for the move 1... d5. Do what you want.
Completely the same with 1... Nf6. All these moves are a direct theory of the d5 move. Same thing: spank b5 and protect the pawn and calmly develop.
1... с6
Strange move, isn't it? Personally, I have never encountered such a move against myself. But just know: do everything the same, just protect the pawn by moving a3 and just do e3, c4, Nf3, Be2 and so on there.
Conclusion:
The move is quite good and interesting. You saw that the whole theory is connected here. The main thing is to remember the theory 1... d5 and 1... e5 and everything else is absolutely connected. The move can easily set a trap for a beginner and easily win a blitz or bullet game. The main thing is to put the bishop on b2, move b5 or protect the pawn with a3 and calmly play in the center from the flanks. Here you can choose which ways you want to play: there is no best move for White. All moves (normal moves) are good for White. The main thing to remember is one more piece of advice: Do not place the pawn on d4 too early. She will block our bishop on b2 and then Black may be better. And so you are already ready to play the opening, there is no particular theory. Also, if you haven’t already, be sure to check out the blog about the invisible trap in this opening. It is very important and can easily win you the game. Link at the very beginning of the blog. If you still have questions about the opening: ask them to me, I will answer everything for you and you will begin to understand the opening even better. I recommend that you try to walk like this. Play at least a couple of games like this. And understand: besides e4 and d4, there are other moves. I hope you love this move and will try to use it. Don’t be shy: ask questions if you don’t understand something or if you want to know the theory even better (which is practically non-existent lol). I hope you enjoyed this series of blogs and maybe I’ll even look at more unusual openings. Now just look at an example of my game on lichess.org.
Link to this game: https://lichess.org/8WnFxDXPzYu0
I hope you liked it and I helped you in some way. Thank you all for your attention and have a nice day!
