English Chess Forum

Paul McKeown wrote:Can people recommend some decent lines against 1. b4?

I have had a couple of disasters against this in the past couple of seasons.

I think it probably makes sense to prepare for it before the new season gets underway. Thanks in advance!

Firstly I’d make sure my opponent doesn’t read these pages, and then I'd play something sensible and be grateful that he/she hasn’t played a ‘proper’ opening (which is exactly what a team mate often says about my own white repertoire).

Paul, I note you started this thread in September – have you faced any orangutans since then?

From White's POV, having toyed around with 1.b4 when 1...e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 simply gave Black too much play so early on IMO, I would nowadays follow Smyslov's example and preface the possibility of b4 with 1.Nf3, depending on Black's first move reply, of course.