Polish Opening

The Orangutan strolls down the queenside

Fianchetto
Offbeat

1.b4 gains space on the queenside and prepares a fianchetto: the b2 bishop looks down the long diagonal towards Black's kingside. White leaves the centre alone for now and bets on surprise and on pressure against f6 and g7. It is a rarity, but it has devoted followers.

Interactive Opening Board

3.Bxe5

♚

Black

♔

White

3.Bxe5

Speed:

Moves

(5 plies • 3 moves)

3.Bxe5Tabiya

1–3moves
#WhiteBlack
1.
2.
3.

Defining move

1.b4 — the pawn goes to the wing

The move that opens the road for the b2 bishop and gains space

The b4 pawn frees the c1 bishop and threatens b5 to drive away a knight on c6. But it does not control the centre and can become a target itself. After 1…e5 2.Bb2 Black takes the pawn with the bishop, and White answers by taking on e5.

Tabiya

The Exchange Variation

White has given the b-pawn but taken the e5 pawn, and the bishop now stands in the centre, eyeing g7 and c7. Material is level, Black has gained time and can develop with tempo, for example with …Nf6 or …Nc6 against the bishop. White wants to build pawns on e3 and c3 and use the weakened kingside; Black wants to finish development calmly.

White’s plan

Develop with e3 and Nf3, and kick the b4 bishop with c3.
Use the bishop on the long diagonal against g7.
Push b5 when the moment is right and chase a knight from c6.

Black’s plan

Gain a tempo on the e5 bishop with …Nf6 or …Nc6.
Take the centre with …d5 and finish development.
Keep White from building an attack on the dark squares.

History

The opening goes by two names. The nickname Orangutan comes from the 1924 New York tournament, where Tartakower played 1.b4 and, as the story goes, visited the zoo. The other name honours the Soviet master Alexey Sokolsky, who championed the opening.

Notable players

Alexey Sokolsky

Legends who played it

A
Alexey Sokolsky
as White · Named after the player

Games in the Atlas

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