Chess Opening Theory/1. b4/1...e5/2. Bb2/2...Bxb4

Polish Opening, Main Line
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqk1nr/pppp1ppp/8/4p3/1b6/8/PBPPPPPP/RN1QKBNR w
Moves: 1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 Bxb4

Polish Opening, Main Line

2...Bxb4

Black takes the undefended pawn which will most likely result in White recapturing with 3. Bxe5. Not only has Black now ceded White a central pawn majority for the b-pawn, but Black also has to worry about white's threat on g7. Also, a sharper but very risky option for White is 3. f4?!. At this point, Black can safely gain some form of advantage with 3...d6 4. fxe5 dxe5 5. Bxe5, due to white's weakened kingside and missing f-pawn. Black has, on the other hand, traded two central pawns for two flank pawns. Black can also accept the gambit with 3...exf4?!, leading to wild play and an unclear position after 4. Bxg7 Qh4+! 5. g3 fxg3 6. Bg2! gxh2+ 7. Kf1 hxg1=Q+ 8. Kxg1 Qg3 9. Bxh8, where White has a rook and a pawn for a knight and three pawns. The board is wide open and both sides have possibilities, though computers evaluate the position as objectively better for White. Nevertheless, computer evaluation has suggested that 3...Nh6! gives Black a large, if not winning advantage.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 Bxb4

	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
	Bxe5 Nf6	Bxf6 Qxf6	=/+
	... f6	Bd4	=
	f4?! exf4?!	Bxg7 Qh4+!	g3 fxg3	Bg2! gxh2+	Kf1 hxg1=Q+	Kxg1 Qg3	Bxh8 ...	+/-
	f4?! d6	fxe5 dxe5	Bxe5 Nf6	Bxf6 Qxf6	-+
	f4?! Nh6!	Bxe5 O-O!	e3 Nf5	Bd3 d5	Bxf5 Bxf5	Ne2 Nc6	O-O Nxe5	-+