Polish Opening
1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 Nf6 · A00
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 12
Each bishop takes a pawn
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
- 6.
The idea
White pushes the b-pawn to gain queenside space and fianchetto the bishop with tempo — a genuine surprise weapon at club level.
Main line: 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 Nf6 4.Nf3 O-O 5.e3 d5 6.Be2 Re8
What White wants
- If Black declines, gain queenside space with b5 and a4
- After ...Bxb4, recover material with Bxe5 and develop quickly
- Use the bishops actively while keeping the weakened queenside secure
What Black wants
- After ...Bxb4 Bxe5, use ...Nf6 to gain time on the bishop
- Occupy the centre with ...d5 and complete development
- Target the weakened queenside when it does not delay development
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
Each bishop takes a pawn
After ...Bxb4 Bxe5, White's b-pawn and Black's e-pawn have disappeared, so material is level. White has spent three moves and Black two at this snapshot. Black can attack the e5 bishop with ...Nf6, while White should develop rather than keep moving the bishop.
Common mistake
Treating the captured b-pawn as if it must be recovered on b4. Bxe5 instead restores the material balance in the main line; attempts to chase the bishop can lose development time while Black gains the centre with ...d5.
Representative position
The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.
rnbqr1k1/ppp2ppp/5n2/3pB3/1b6/4PN2/P1PPBPPP/RN1QK2R w KQ - 2 7
Analyze this position