Chessy
Playing Against the Sokolsky Opening: b6
When White plays 1.b4 b6 2.a3, they've spent two moves pushing a wing pawn and then guarded it — but neglected the centre. This is the Sokolsky Opening, also known as the Orangutan or Polish Opening, and while it's playable, the statistics across 18,216 games show Black doing just fine. The engine evaluates this at -0.16, a tiny plus for White, meaning you are essentially equal — dead level right out of the opening. The key is knowing how to grab your share of the centre and avoid the few pitfalls that give White unnecessary chances. Let's look at what works, what doesn't, and how to make Black's 47.6% win rate work for you.
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Create a free account →What You're Fighting For
White's set-up with 1.b4 and 2.a3 has a clear goal: prepare a fianchetto on the queenside (Bb2) while keeping the b-pawn protected. But it completely ignores the central squares d5, e5, d4, and e4. Your job as Black is to claim them. The most natural and engine-approved way to do that is Nf6 — developing a piece toward the centre while keeping your options open. After Nf6, a strong continuation from White is c4 e6 g3, setting up their own kingside fianchetto. That's a perfectly fine position for you: you develop normally, fight for the centre, and White's early pawn moves haven't achieved much.
The Critical Decision: Where Does the Bishop Go?
After 1.b4 b6 2.a3, Black's most popular move is Bb7 — played in a massive 15,567 games. It's natural: you develop the bishop to the long diagonal, mirroring White's intended plan. And it works just fine — White scores only 47.9% from that position. However, it's worth noting that the engine prefers Nf6 slightly above Bb7, because the knight move gives you more central flexibility. If you do play Bb7, be ready for White to continue with c4 or e3 and Bb2, leading to a quiet positional game where neither side has a real edge.
The Surprising Best Reply for Black
Among all the popular replies, one stands out statistically: a5. Though it's been played only 256 times, White scores just 41.0% from that position — the lowest of any major option. That's because a5 immediately challenges White's only achievement (the b4-pawn) and forces White to either advance (b5, weakening the queenside) or exchange (axb5, opening the a-file for your rook). If White captures, you recapture with the rook and have quick play down the a-file. If White pushes with b5, the pawn becomes a long-term target. This is a sharp and under-explored way to fight for an edge.
Mistakes to Avoid
The most common misstep for Black in this position is to play too passively. Moves like g6 (588 games, White scores 50.5%) or e6 (381 games, White scores 49.3%) are perfectly playable but give White slightly more comfort than they deserve. The danger isn't losing immediately — it's allowing White to complete their fianchetto and castle without any disruption. Remember: White has already spent two moves on the queenside. If you develop soundly with Nf6, Bb7, e6, or a5 and follow up with central pawn advances (d5 or c5), you'll reach a comfortable middlegame where your central control outweighs White's queenside space.
What the Statistics Reveal
The overall numbers from 18,216 games paint a clear picture: White wins 48.0%, Black wins 47.6%, and only 4.5% end in draws. That's remarkably balanced — almost dead even, with a slight nod to White at the very top level (the engine's -0.16 is barely a whisper). What this tells you is that the Sokolsky b6 line is not a dangerous weapon for White. If you know a sensible plan, you can play for a win with confidence. The low draw rate (4.5%) also means these positions tend to remain tense and unbalanced — exactly the kind of game where understanding the typical plans gives you an edge.
Results across 18,216 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bb7 | 15,567 | 47.9% |
| g6 | 588 | 50.5% |
| e6 | 381 | 49.3% |
| Ba6 | 319 | 48.0% |
| a5 | 256 | 41.0% |
| c5 | 181 | 49.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sokolsky Opening b6 a good surprise weapon for White?
The statistics show it's surprisingly balanced — White wins 48.0% of games, Black wins 47.6%. The engine evaluates the position after 2.a3 as -0.16, a tiny plus for White, meaning you are essentially equal. It's not dangerous if you know how to respond, but it can be uncomfortable if you've never seen it before. Play Nf6 or Bb7 and focus on the centre.
What is the best reply to 1.b4 b6 2.a3?
The engine's top choice is Nf6, developing toward the centre. Statistically, a5 is also excellent — White scores only 41.0% from that position, the worst of any major option. Bb7 is the most popular reply and also fine. Avoid passive set-ups like g6 or e6 unless you have a specific plan, as they give White slightly better chances.
Should I play Bb7 against the Sokolsky b6?
Bb7 is the most common move by a huge margin — played in 15,567 out of 18,216 games. It's a solid, natural developing move. White scores 47.9% from that position, so you are doing just fine. However, the engine slightly prefers Nf6 because it keeps more central flexibility. Either move is perfectly playable.
How do I get an advantage against the Sokolsky Opening?
Since the position is dead level (-0.16 for White), you won't get a direct advantage from the opening moves alone. Your best chance is to play actively — consider a5 to challenge the b4-pawn immediately, or develop with Nf6 and follow up with d5 or c5 to claim central space. The low draw rate (4.5%) means these games stay tense, so outplaying your opponent in the middlegame is the real path to victory.