i had a somewhat strong super nintendo chessmaster game & 1.b4 was the ONLY game i was able to win versus it.
i feel like i probably have a lifetime plus score with the sokolsky also... i'd probably generally rank it just behind 1.f4 in terms of correctness.
i actually think its sounder than f4.
1. f4 is probably equal and 1. b4 is a litttle bit better than that. 1. f4 ceratinly isn't worse for white.
Donnsteinz
#23
Here's the only time I played the Polish opening just to fill all my books section in the awards page. 1.b4 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6 6.g4!?
https://www.chess.com/game/live/42178156917
That was a neat game Donnsteinz using the polish.
Thanks, @aflfooty 
I’m curious whether top players today will dabble with the Sokolsky opening.
It seems that black has an advantage if everyone knows the lines.
But does everyone know the lines.
Studying an unusual opening less used well . Almost all the standard openings are studied back to front and end up in chess starting almost at the middle game.
I see it often watching the top players here playing 3 minute chess. There is a flurry of moves on known standard openings and then the pause when the game “ starts” after the opening theory expires.
b4 might change that dynamic.
I’m curious whether top players today will dabble with the Sokolsky opening.
It seems that black has an advantage if everyone knows the lines.
But does everyone know the lines.
Studying an unusual opening less used well . Almost all the standard openings are studied back to front and end up in chess starting almost at the middle game.
I see it often watching the top players here playing 3 minute chess. There is a flurry of moves on known standard openings and then the pause when the game “ starts” after the opening theory expires.
b4 might change that dynamic.
There may be that impression but very often black is surprised and doesn't really know how to play against it well. For instance I usually play 1. ... e5 and 2. ...f6 against it. There was a bit of a fashion for playing 1.b4 here but I only ever got one player who really played the right moves against what I played, which include e4. But when it came to the key move for white, he didn't know it.
Is e6 sound against the Sokolsky opening versus e5.
I'm sure it is. I sometimes play e6 instead of e5. It's a little less ambitious for black.
But black played badly. Nowhere near master level.
Agreed. I did like the final move, but the rest wasn't that interesting to me personally.
Yes very nice. Wins a Q for a R and black is still about to be checkmated.
I agree regarding the surprise element of b4. It makes most players start playing chess from move 1 ( in a way).
But I have read that if black knows the correct combinations against b4 then they have taken the advantage of whites first move away .
But it was qualified by top players who know the theory playing black
Many intermediate and lower players may not see the beauty of the polish opening playing black.
Fischers win ( and the other wins shown here) showcases its beauty.
Im sure Sokolsky put a lot of time and effort into his theory lines.
So many e4 , c4 and d4 openings here on chess.com. They are played because they are well researched in history . As soon as you play a move the combinations are famously named and then a myriad of famous chess players combinations are showcased. This is true chess theory.
I just watch 3 minute chess a lot by top players over say 2500 elo.
After a while you see a “ flurry of moves” from opening and then the pause
The pause appears to be the moment where chess is finally starting.
The opening theories seem to be known back to front till then
I agree regarding the surprise element of b4. It makes most players start playing chess from move 1 ( in a way).
But I have read that if black knows the correct combinations against b4 then they have taken the advantage of whites first move away .
But it was qualified by top players who know the theory playing black
Many intermediate and lower players may not see the beauty of the polish opening playing black.
Fischers win ( and the other wins shown here) showcases its beauty.
Im sure Sokolsky put a lot of time and effort into his theory lines.
Some openings are like that but the compensation for white is that the positions are both complex and unusual.
I think black can achieve exact equality with 1. ... e6 for instance. I would still prefer 1. b4 to 1. f4 but it's only subjective and there isn't any difference "objectively", regarding their respective strengths.
Any opening move which is text book reviewed and played regularly will open out to a series of combinations that leads to chess only starting well into the opening.
Sometimes even without thinking you navigate the moves into known positions.
Then eventually you pause…..and think about your next move.
Many times you see this in the short form of chess at higher levels.
The pause when the text book combinations expire from opening.
With the polish opening you begin the chess from move 1. With medium level players they scramble for text book moves.
Black should be advantaged by this opening if black can gain the centre but they need to know the combinations😇😇😇