Sokolsky Opening
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moves | 1. b4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECO | A00 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Named after | Alexei Pavlovich Sokolsky | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | Irregular chess opening | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Synonym(s) | Orangutan Opening Polish Opening Hunt Opening | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Sokolsky Opening (also known as the Orangutan, Polish, or Hunt Opening) is an uncommon chess opening that begins with the move:
- 1. b4
According to various databases, out of the twenty possible first moves from White, The opening move 1.b4 ranks ninth in popularity.[1] It is considered an irregular opening, so it is classified under the A00 code in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).
Details
The opening has never been popular at the top level, though a number of prominent players have employed it on occasion (for example, Richard Réti against Abraham Speijer in Scheveningen 1923 and Boris Spassky against Vasily Smyslov in the 1960 Moscow–Leningrad match). Soviet player Alexei Pavlovich Sokolsky (1908–69) wrote a monograph on this opening in 1963, Debyut 1 b2–b4.
Perhaps its most famous use came in the game Tartakower versus Maróczy, New York City March 21, 1924.[2] The name "Orangutan Opening" originates from that game: the players visited the Bronx Zoo the previous day, where Tartakower consulted an orangutan named Susan, and she somehow indicated, Tatakower insisted, that he should open with b4. Also Tartakower noted that the climbing movement of the pawn to b5 reminded him of the orangutan. In that particular game, Tartakower came out of the opening with a decent position, but the game was drawn.[3][4]
The opening is largely based upon tactics on the queenside or the f6- and g7-squares. Black can respond in a variety of ways: perhaps the most principled is to make a claim to the centre (which White's first move ignores) with 1...d5 (possibly followed by 2.Bb2 Qd6, attacking b4 and supporting e7–e5),[5] 1...e5 or 1...f5, though less ambitious moves like 1...Nf6, 1...c6 (called the Outflank Variation, preparing ...Qb6 or ...a5), and 1...e6 are also reasonable. Rarer attempts have been made with 1...a5 or 1...c5. Black's reply 1...e6 is usually followed by ...d5, ...Nf6 and an eventual ...c5. After 1.b4 e5 it is normal for White to ignore the attack on the b-pawn and play 2.Bb2, when 2...d6, 2...f6, and 2...Bxb4 are all playable. After 1...a5 White will most likely play 2.b5 and take advantage of Black's queenside weakness. Black's 1...c5 is much sharper and more aggressive and is normally used to avoid theory. After the capture Black will generally place pressure on the c5-square and will develop an attack against White's weak queenside structure.
See also
- List of chess openings
- List of chess openings named after people
- List of chess openings named after animals
References
Notes
- ^ See for example ChessBase, 365chess opening explorer, and ChessGames.com opening explorer
- ^ "Savielly Tartakower vs Geza Maroczy". Chessgames.com. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Weinreb, Michael. "Kings of New York". Gotham Books. 2007
- ^ Danelishen, Gary; M. “The Final Theory of Chess”. Phillidore Press 2008 ISBN-10: 0981567703 ISBN-13: 978-0981567709
- ^ Martin, Andrew (2004). "How To Meet The Polish & Grob". www.jeremysilman.com.
Bibliography
- Hooper, David (1996). The Oxford Companion to Chess. Oxford University. ISBN 0-19-280049-3.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Dunnington, Angus (2000). Winning Unorthodox Openings. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1-85744-285-4.
- Eric Schiller (2002). Unorthodox Chess Openings (Second ed.). Cardoza. ISBN 1-58042-072-9. p. 354-357
- Yury Lapshun (2008). Play 1b4!: Shock your opponents with the Sokolsky. Everyman Chess. ISBN 978-1-85744-560-2.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Jerzy Konikowski und Marek Soszynski: The Sokolsky Opening 1.b4 in Theory & Practice. Russell Enterprises, Milford USA 2009, ISBN 978-1-888690-65-1
External links
