While the move b4 will hardly make Black shake in his boots, there are only a few responses that fit into any scheme of defense, and White will either find the game progressing according to plan or will find his opponent making relatively disorganized moves. If you play Nf3 before b4, you really have a nearly traditional opening, known as Santasiere's Folly. The only problematic move by Black in response to this method of opening is 1...c5, in which case White can play a pseudo-gambit with b4. Black will lose a lot time trying to hold on to the pawn. Also, 1...g6 can be met with b4, and if 2...Bg7 then White can answer d4, intending c4 with a rather traditional big-center set-up. For more ideas see lines of the Modern Defense or King's Indian Defense, although keep in mind that the queenside fianchetto is not normally a part of them.
Just as the St. George can be used in response to almost any White opening
move, so can the Bugayev allow almost any response by Black. (I use Bugayev
here, next page I may use a different label. All the opening's developers
deserve credit!) Also, the player of the St. George will find that many of the
early moves for both sides look hauntingly familiar. The colors are most likely
different, but the thoughts are the same. Keep in mind that you can have a game
in which Black plays the St. George against the St. George Reversed! The themes which
underlie the St. George obviously support the Bugayev as well, or perhaps we
should state that the other way around. Below you'll find beginning lines of all
possible responses by Black (not, of course, all lines of possible play) along
with comments and evaluations. In the various notes and comments and bits and
pieces that one collects over the years, there are to be found quite a few
unclear lines that have been designated as such by Sokolsky. For a
"non-traditional" opening, the Sokolsky has a lot of literature available, if
one looks. Not voluminous, as one might encounter when researching the Queen's
Gambit, but varied and intriguing. Throughout the years, the Sokolsky (or the
Orangutan, as Tartakower dubbed it), has been played by and against some of the
game's most renowned figures. It may also be seen as Santisiere's Folly, opening
with Nf3 first, to prevent Black's e5. Upon 1)Nf3, however, White has no
guarantee that Black will not play 1)...c5, but we can handle this as
well. Many games are available in which the "Sokolsky-delayed" is played, with
b4 only being used as the third or fourth move. In any case, traspositions are
common and starting with 1)b4 is hardly a sign of weakness. Please send your games or lines to us to
improve everyone's study of this opening!
| 1)b4 e5 This is the best response by Black. Stake out some center space and threaten, at least for one move, White's b-pawn. [Playing ...d5 in response poses no special problems, nor does 1)Nf3 Nf6 2)b4 d5] 2)Bb2 f6 White now aims at the Black e-pawn while placing the Bishop on the long diagonal. Black can protect the pawn, as here, or can decide to swap pawns with 2)...Bxb4, 3)Bxe5 Nf6 and White is probably best bringing the Bishop home with 4)Bb2, although 4)e3 is harmless and c3 interesting. Of course a3 is expected, but with the b-pawn gone it looks wasteful early. Playing 3)e4 is a known line, but White is probably best playing e4 first if he wants to play e4; that is, we don't think "backing in" to e4 via the Sokolsky is needed. 3)b5 d5 4)e3 Be6 5)d4 e4 6)Nd2 c6 7)a4 Bd6 8)c4 f5 9)Nh3 Nh6 10)Qb3 0-0 11)Ba3 evaluated as unclear by Sokolsky himself. | b4 e5 Bb7 f6 a3 or... b4 e5 a3 g6 or... b4 e6 None of which are unusual or especially troublesome. |
b4 Nf6 Bb2 e6 a3 d5 c3 Bd6 [4)e3 Bb7 5)Nf3 Be7 6)Be2 0-0 7)0-0, about equal] e3 0-0 d4 a5 Nf3 a5xb4 a3xb4 a8xa1 b2xa1 b6 Slightly better for Black at the moment. Obviously, when Black plays 1)...Nf6, there are many options. |
b4 d5 Bb2 Nf6 e3 e6 White can push the b-pawn now, or wait. The 1)...d5 lines are fairly quiet. |
b4 Nc6? b5! Na5/Nb4/Ne5/Nd4/Nb8 Black will be pre-occupied with the awkward Knight. |
| b4 c6 Bb2 Qb6 White may see ...Qd6 played, but this doesn't give Black any great benefit. a3 a5 c4 axb4 c5 Qc7 axb4 Ra1 Ba1 Nf6 e3 g6 Nc3 d5 White is slightly better, and seems to do well overall in the ...c6 lines. |
b4 a5 b5 Nf6 Bb2 d6 e3 g6 d4 Bg7 Nf3 0-0 c4 c5 Nc3 cd4 ed4 Qc7 Be2 Be6 Nd2 Bh6 d5 Bc8 0-0 Nbd7 Nde4 Bg7 Equal, from Sokolski-Lujk, 1957 |
1)b4 c5 A pointless gambit by Black. 2)bxc5 e5 With normal development White is fine, although 3)d4! looks tempting. |
b4 d6 or... b4 g5 or... b4 h6 or... b4 h5 or... b4 a6 or... b4 b6 or... b4 f6 or... b4 f5 or... b4 Na6 or... b4 Nh6 pose no problems unique to the first move. |
While 1)...b5 is novel and prevents the push of the b-pawn,
it hardly puts White on the defensive, and the extra move is comforting.
b4 b5 e3 a6 ...or b4 b5 e3 c6 ...or b4 b5 e3 e6/e5 and White holds a slight edge in all due to the extra move, which makes pursuing a "St. George" set-up enjoyable. If, b4 b5 e3 e6 Bxb5 Bxb4 White strikes with Qg4! |