The Zukertort Opening: Myers Polish Attack (1.Nf3 Nf6 2.a4 g6 3.b4)

The Myers Polish Attack is all about space and initiative on the queenside. By playing 2.a4 and 3.b4, you stake a claim to the b5- and a5-squares before Black has even committed to a pawn structure. Your b-pawn becomes a potential battering ram (b4-b5 later, kicking a knight or opening lines), while the a-pawn secures your b4-pawn from ...a5 counterplay. The engine evaluates this position at -0.16, a dead-level assessment that means you've given up nothing for your unorthodox start. You are neither better nor worse — you have simply steered the game into territory where your opponent is far more likely than you to make a mistake.

Across 224 games, Black's overwhelming choice is 3...Bg7 (204 games, with White scoring 41.2%). That fianchetto is natural — Black develops a bishop, eyes the centre, and prepares to castle. In response, the engine's best continuation for you is 4.Bb2, completing your own fianchetto. After 4...d6 5.d4, you have set up a solid centre with both bishops aiming along long diagonals. The position remains roughly equal, but you have achieved a clean, classical setup from a very non-classical move order — exactly the kind of practical advantage this opening provides.

From 224 games at this exact position, White wins 39.3%, draws 4.9%, and Black wins 55.8%. At first glance, the Black win rate looks high, but consider two factors: this is a rare line, so many White players might be trying it without preparation, and the low draw rate (under 5%) means games are sharp and decisive. When you know what to do — fianchetto quickly and claim the centre — you flip the script. Notice also how White's score drops sharply against rarer replies: after 3...e6 (7 games, White scores just 28.6%) and 3...d6 (3 games, White scores 0.0%). Those are small sample sizes, but they suggest that Black players who deviate from the main line may already have a plan. Stay alert.

The biggest trap in this opening is forgetting why you played b4 in the first place. Some White players panic and push the b-pawn again before they are developed, or they neglect the dark-squared bishop. Your bishop belongs on b2, not e3 or d2 — it's your most important piece in this structure. Another common error is failing to meet 3...c6 properly. That reply (only 2 games, but White scored 50%) threatens ...b5 and ...a5 to disrupt your queenside. Instead of trying to hold the pawn with a5, simply develop normally: 4.Bb2 is still correct, and if Black grabs the pawn later, you get active play in return. Keep your head, develop, and let the position speak for itself.