d5-e6-Nf6-Be7-castle is a fine way to play against it, and e6 can be a part of that.
Another easy way is a London-type setup d5-Bf5-e6-etc
Nearly all first moves against 1.b4 are good 
1...e6 against 1.b4
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Jun 23, 2019
0
#4
ghost_of_pushwood wrote:
And I wouldn't get too smug about 1 b4. The most talented player I ever knew used it a lot (and I can't ever recall him losing with it...or drawing either, for that matter).
I'm not smug against 1.b4, but at the same time I wouldn't stress over the opening. It's not something you need to study to get a playable middlegame.
Simply because 1...e5 (2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 Nf6) is much more to the point.
But of course 1...e6 is totally playable.
What about 1...c6 intending ...a5 and/or ...Qb6?
This is a more interesting idea, but IMO the one and only move which renders 1.b4 as slightly dubious is 1...e5!
Jun 23, 2019
0
#6
Yeah, honestly I play 1...e5 and my next 10 to 12 moves are on autopilot.
Which lets white have equality, because I haven't studied those lines, but white only get equality vs my autopilot 
Jun 23, 2019
0
#7
koenwielfaert wrote:
Second move would be 2. Bb2 - Nf6 to "threaten" Bxb4 :-)
Every line has its problems. With your proposed line, it's developing the Queenside pieces.
1.b4 e6 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.b5 d5 (there are other possibilities, but 3...a6 is useless - 4.a4 axb5 5.axb5 Rxa1 6.Bxa1 doesn't solve Black's ultimate problem that the Knight and Bishop are often tripping over each other) 4.e3.
Jun 23, 2019
0
#8
ghost_of_pushwood wrote:
I think that position in the 1... c6 var looks better than it is. White ends up having to play c3, sure, but then Black can scarcely profit from all of it (near as I can tell).
1...c6 does not require a c3 push from White. You play 1...c6 and c3 is NEVER played by me.
1.b4 c6 2.Bb2 Qb6 (2...a5 3.b5) 3.a3 a5 4.c4! (NOT 4.c3?) axb4 5.c5! Qc7 (5...Qxc5?? 6.axb4 +-) 6.axb4 Rxa1 7.Bxa1 and White has a small advantage.
Jun 23, 2019
0
#9
mariners234 wrote:
Yeah, honestly I play 1...e5 and my next 10 to 12 moves are on autopilot.
Which lets white have equality, because I haven't studied those lines, but white only get equality vs my autopilot
To me the trick with 1...e5 is don't play the early ...Nc6.
1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 Nf6 4.c4 (4.Nf3 is another line, but very passive for White) 4...O-O 5.Nf3 Re8 6.e3 d5 7.cxd5 (7.a3 or 5.a3 first is better) Nxd5 and now 8.Bb2 Nf4 or 8.Be2 Rxe5 9.Nxe5 Qf6 and White is in trouble. 10.f4 Nxe3!, for example. This is why 5.a3 Ba5 or 7.a3 Ba5 should be thrown in there. That way, White can respond to this position with Nc4, attacking the Bishop, then after ...Qxa1 Nxa5 and White is OK, but nothing better than merely OK. For White to have an "OK" assessment, implying zero advantage, is not pleasant for White.
ThrillerFan a écrit :
ghost_of_pushwood wrote:
I think that position in the 1... c6 var looks better than it is. White ends up having to play c3, sure, but then Black can scarcely profit from all of it (near as I can tell).
1...c6 does not require a c3 push from White. You play 1...c6 and c3 is NEVER played by me.
1.b4 c6 2.Bb2 Qb6 (2...a5 3.b5) 3.a3 a5 4.c4! (NOT 4.c3?) axb4 5.c5! Qc7 (5...Qxc5?? 6.axb4 +-) 6.axb4 Rxa1 7.Bxa1 and White has a small advantage.
Richard Palliser in Beating Unusual Chess Opening advocates this line as black and thinks black is at least ok.
I agree with him, I think black is better after :
I don't know why the consensus was, for a while, that white is slightly better in this line.
Nowdays, it is black who is supposed to be slightly better.
Moreover, black has another choice :
And here, who would be satistified with white position?
6.Bc3 Na6 is almost pawn down for white, while 6.c3 is not the move u want to play...
ghost_of_pushwood a écrit :
As I've said, 6 c3 is not the move you want to play...but then what? I think Black's initiative (such as it is) is temporary at best.
Some examples :
I could add many other examples showing white's problems.
I don't know if white can claim equality, but several points :
- positions are much easier to play for black.
- on megadatabase 2019, 76 games with c3, with 36.2% for white, just horrible. Usually I don't like stats, but here it is rather expressive.
When we see this, we can consider 1.b4 practically refuted by 1...c6, but 1...e5 as well (though more complicated).
White can improve nevertheless, with 1.b4 c6 2.a3 a5 3.b5!? although black is fine after 3...e5 (3...cxb5 4.e4!) 4.Bb2 d6.
Or 1.b4 c6 2.Bb2 a5 3.b5 but compensations after 3...cxb5 (3...d5 is simple and good) are unclear to me...
I played 1...e6 against a higher rated opponent OTB, and I didn't find the early 3. b5 line to be problematic (I prefer 3. a3 as white after 1..e6. It could be only me though, as I play 2. a3 against 1...e5 anyways). While I think I did equalize rather easily, he eventually got the upper hand with and was better in the endgame until the series of exchanges, where we agreed to a draw. I don't know what went wrong in the middle game but I was happy with the result nonetheless
Jun 24, 2019
0
#13
Exactly. 1...e5 and trading the central pawn for the flank pawn also tells white "I know the theory of your dubious opening and it's not going to work today". Sometimes you even get a face from them that basically shows their disappointment. Don't miss it by playing a different move
pfren wrote:
Simply because 1...e5 (2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 Nf6) is much more to the point.
But of course 1...e6 is totally playable.
What about 1...c6 intending ...a5 and/or ...Qb6?
This is a more interesting idea, but IMO the one and only move which renders 1.b4 as slightly dubious is 1...e5!
1 day ago
0
#17
The line where black trades his e pawn for the b-pawn, in order to gain tempi for development, is the best response, however black has to understand and memorize several engine lines in order to force white to scramble to equalize. The key factors are when black should play the move ...c5 before ...Nc6, and when he should castle queenside, combined with either Bg4 or Bf5 moves. There are basically three play branches that need to be studied and anyone can do this in about an hour. But the question is, will you actually remember them?
12 hrs ago
0
#18
Falkentyne wrote:
The line where black trades his e pawn for the b-pawn, in order to gain tempi for development, is the best response, however black has to understand and memorize several engine lines in order to force white to scramble to equalize. The key factors are when black should play the move ...c5 before ...Nc6, and when he should castle queenside, combined with either Bg4 or Bf5 moves. There are basically three play branches that need to be studied and anyone can do this in about an hour. But the question is, will you actually remember them?
old news my friend, the modern way to play the polish exchange is via 4.c3. the Old 4.c4 main line is too much work by white to prove equality.
12 hrs ago
0
#19
as for 1.b4 nf6 2.bb2 e6 3.d5 b5, theory says equality but let me tell you from playing this countless times, that white's extra queenside space makes itself felt. Black ends up with a gaping whole on c6 in many lines and opportunities to threaten a passer on the queenside are not rare. Whites control of the center is also not insignificant, as he can play for d4 at any time.
Thoughts about 1...e6 against 1.b4?!
I used to play 1..e5 but why not attack the pawn and keep your own pawn safe? :-)
Thanks 4 the advice! :-)