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

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Polish Opening, Main Line
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black kingg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black pawne7 black kingf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black kinge5 black pawnf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black bishopc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 black kingg4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white bishopc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 white pawng2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 black kingd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
Moves: 1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 Bxb4

Polish Opening, Main Line

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2...Bxb4

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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

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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
-+

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References

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[1]