Chess Opening Theory/1. b4/1...e5/2. Bb2/2...Bxb4
Polish Opening, Main Line | |
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) | |
Moves: 1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 Bxb4 |
Polish Opening, Main Line
[edit | edit source]2...Bxb4
[edit | edit source]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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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 |
-+ |
References
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