Chess Opening Theory/1. e4/1...b5

1...b5?
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

rnbqkbnr/p1pppppp/8/1p6/4P3/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR

Moves: 1. e4 b5
ECO code: B00
Parent: King's pawn opening

1...b5?

One of the worst possible responses to 1. e4. Black gives up their b-pawn which White can snap up while developing their bishop, 2. Bxb5.

Having opened the b7 square, Black can fianchetto 2...Bb7 to attack White's centre from afar. (cf. the Owen's defence, 1...b6.) One devious try for Black is to take advantage of having brought White's bishop away from defence of the g2 square. 1. e4 b5? 2. Bxb5 Bb7 3. Nc3 f5?! 4. exf5 and Black thinks ...Bxg2?! wins the rook in the corner. Unfortunately, Qh5+ and Black's king proves to be too weak.

If White does not accept the pawn, play may transpose into the Polish gambit in the Sicilian defence after 2...Nf3 3. c5.

History

1...b5? is unheard of in tournament chess and almost never played in online games.[1] It resembles a Polish opening in reverse, but Black, moving second, is down a tempo.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1. e4 b5
2
Bxb5 +

References

  1. ↑ As of September 2025, it has 0 hits in the Lichess Masters database and 2.2 million (0.06%) out of 4 billion games beginning 1. e4 in the Lichess database.

See also


v · t · e
Chess Opening Theory
1. e4 e5
Open game
2. Nf3
With 2...Nc6:
  • Four knights (
    )
  • Italian game (
    )
  • Spanish game (
    )

With other 2nd moves:

2. Other

1. e4 c5
Sicilian defence
2. Nf3 · Open Sicilian
With 2...Nc6:
With 2...d6:
With 2...e6:
With other 2nd moves:
Anti-Sicilians
1. e4 ...other:
Caro-Kann
French
Other


1. d4 d5
Closed game
2. c4
2. Nc3
2. other
1. d4 Nf6
Indian defence
2. c4
With 2...e6:

With 2...g6:

With other 2nd moves for Black:
2. Nf3
2. other:
1. d4 f5
Dutch defence
1. d4 ...other:
Flank
Unorthodox
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