Sokolski Debut 1. b2-b4 (Russian Edition)

The Sokolsky chess opening is characterized by the move 1. b2-b4. It is an unorthodox opening, designed to get the opponent out of the book. It is also called the Polish Opening and the Orang Utan. It has not been and cannot be refuted. It has even been played by Black at the world championship level, as Spassky played 1. d4 b5 against Petrosian. That game ended in a draw. The name Orangutan was given to it by Polish Grandmaster Savielly Tartakower who thought about this opening while visiting the monkey cage at the Bronx Zoo the day before he played this opening against Maroczy. While visiting the Bronx Zoo, Tartakower consulted orang utan Suzan on what to play against Maroczy. She advised him to try 1.b4 which, however, was not a novelty. Alekhine in his tournament book notes calls it “an old move, the chief drawback of which is the fact that white discloses his intentions before knowing those of his opponents.” It is rarely played at the master level but some lower ranked players are devoted to it and play it all the time with great success. Read more