how to beat the polar bear system ?
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akorn27
Aug 5, 2023
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#1
My buddy just learned that Ive been playing chess and told me that he plays the polar bear system. What are everyone’s thoughts on this system? Also what are the best ways to beat the polar bear system? Thanks in advance!
Aug 5, 2023
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#2
Ask your buddy what the "polar bear system" is. I've played chess for many years and I've never heard of this system. It sounds made-up to me. Maybe they were just trying to impress you and act like they know more chess than they do?
Aug 5, 2023
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#3
That’s a system from the Byrd opening, I think? It’s very strange. Not particularly sound, either. I’d recommend just developing naturally and not worrying about your mate.
Aug 5, 2023
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#4
@DoYouLikeCurry I still never heard of the "polar bear system." Plus "System Openings" can be played against just about anything. What piece configuration/pawn formation defines the "polar bear system?"
Aug 5, 2023
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#5
Here’s a book about it:
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7633.pdf
I don’t play it myself and only heard abt it recently on Twitter 🤷♂️
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7633.pdf
I don’t play it myself and only heard abt it recently on Twitter 🤷♂️
Aug 5, 2023
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#6
DoYouLikeCurry wrote:
Here’s a book about it:
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7633.pdf
I don’t play it myself and only heard abt it recently on Twitter 🤷♂️
https://www.newinchess.com/media/wysiwyg/product_pdf/7633.pdf
I don’t play it myself and only heard abt it recently on Twitter 🤷♂️
Huh, that is cool; learn something new everyday. The "Polar bear system" sounded made-up to me 
Honestly, their setup just seems like a Dutch (Specifically, Leningrad Dutch) with an extra tempo. I'd probably just call it that, rather than "Polar bear system" but I wonder if their name was creatively invented because of its connection to Iceland the PDF alluded to xD
Aug 5, 2023
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#8
Play it really cool with ice in your veins, and if you lose the initiative and can't bear the heat, claw it back.
Aug 5, 2023
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#12
The Polar Bear System is a variation of the Kangaroo Opening which is rarely played today because it is considered unsound.
Aug 5, 2023
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#13
The Polar Bear is sound insofar as the Birds opening itself is sound. Opinions range from its bad to good, its not a bad weapon for sure under 2100/ I used to play against a player who was 2050 FIDE and played 1.f4 and ..f5 (except against 1.e4) against all comers and had good results with it. The best practical way to handle it without knowing every
line is to play a positional game against it/ the main goal of the line is to try and get in e4 at some point with tempo, so be ready as black for it.
Nov 12, 2023
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#14
Many have it slightly wrong over here. The Polar Bear system is indeed a kind of Leningrad Dutch played with White, in a way that is developped by the (Danish / Icelandic) grandmaster Henric Danielsen. He has written two books about it. (Take a look on Amazon). Particular for The Polar Bear is playing c2-c3, Nb1-a3, Qd1-a4 or c2 before playing e2-e4. This differs from a 'regular Leningrad Dutch / Bird' with White, where The Queen goes from d1 to e1 to support an e2-e4 advance. This system is developped by famous grandmaster Mikhail Marin.
Both system, The Polar Bear and Marin's way of doing it, are positional very sound and clever. There is no easy way for Black to fight those White Leningrad systems. You realy need to study them to know how to counter them succesful.