Polish Opening
What is the Polish Opening?
The Polish Opening is a chess opening that begins with 1. b4. It is classified under ECO A00–A05 and has 25 named variations. White chooses it with the move b4.
Moves: 1. b4
ECO: A00–A05
Chosen by: White
Main variations
1. b4 c5
1. b4 f5
1. b4 Nc6
1. b4 Nh6
1. b4 c6
1. b4 b5
All 25 variations
| ECO | Variation | Moves |
|---|---|---|
| A00 | Main line | 1. b4 |
| A00 | Birmingham Gambit | 1. b4 c5 |
| A00 | Dutch Defense | 1. b4 f5 |
| A00 | Grigorian Variation | 1. b4 Nc6 |
| A00 | Karniewski Variation | 1. b4 Nh6 |
| A00 | Outflank Variation | 1. b4 c6 |
| A00 | Symmetrical Variation | 1. b4 b5 |
| A00 | Bugayev Attack | 1. b4 e5 2. a3 |
| A00 | Baltic Defense | 1. b4 d5 2. Bb2 Bf5 |
| A00 | Czech Defense | 1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 d6 |
| A00 | German Defense | 1. b4 d5 2. Bb2 Qd6 |
| A00 | King's Indian Variation | 1. b4 Nf6 2. Bb2 g6 |
| A00 | Wolferts Gambit | 1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 c5 |
| A00 | Bugayev Advance Variation | 1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 f6 3. b5 |
| A00 | King's Indian Variation, Schiffler Attack | 1. b4 Nf6 2. Bb2 g6 3. e4 |
| A00 | Myers Variation | 1. b4 d5 2. Bb2 c6 3. a4 |
| A00 | Outflank Variation, Schuehler Gambit | 1. b4 c6 2. Bb2 a5 3. b5 |
| A00 | Tartakower Gambit | 1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 f6 3. e4 |
| A05 | Zukertort System | 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. b4 g6 3. Bb2 |
| A00 | Queen's Indian Variation | 1. b4 e6 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. b5 b6 |
| A00 | Queenside Defense | 1. b4 e6 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. b5 a6 |
| A00 | Schiffler-Sokolsky Variation | 1. b4 e6 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. b5 d5 4. e3 |
| A00 | Schuehler Gambit | 1. b4 c6 2. Bb2 a5 3. b5 cxb5 4. e4 |
| A00 | King's Indian Variation, Sokolsky Attack | 1. b4 Nf6 2. Bb2 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. e3 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. d4 |
| A00 | Rooks Swap Line | 1. b4 e6 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. b5 a6 4. a4 axb5 5. axb5 Rxa1 6. Bxa1 |
How to learn an opening
Learn the ideas before the moves: where the pieces go, which pawn breaks matter and what the typical middlegame plans are. Then play it, and after each game look up the point where you or your opponent left the known moves. MentoChess shows that point automatically for every game you import.
Opening lessons: Three golden opening rules · Scholar’s mate and how to stop it · Italian Game: plans, not just moves · Answering 1.d4: the Queen’s Gambit Declined · Meeting the Sicilian with 2.c3 · From moves to structures