- Polish Defense
] Earlier editions of "MCO" give only a single column of analysis and consider only the 2...b5 lines. "MCO-9" (1957), states that the Polish "fails because it neglects the centre". [cite book | author=Korn, Walter | title=Modern Chess Openings: Ninth Edition | publisher=Pitman Publishing | year=1957 | pages=p. 225] That negative verdict was softened in the next edition, "MCO-10" (1965), to say that the Polish "neglects the centre, but is not refuted". [cite book | author=Korn, Walter and
Larry Evans | title=Modern Chess Openings: Tenth Edition | publisher=Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons | year=1965 | pages=p. 332] "MCO-12" (1982) retains the "not refuted" assessment and notes that the Polish can result by transposition from the Réti system. [cite book | author=Korn, Walter | title=Modern Chess Openings: Twelfth Edition | publisher=David McKay | year=1982 | id=ISBN 0-679-13500-6 | pages=p. 310] Other judgements have been more harsh. The 1...b5 Polish was deemed "entirely valueless" by I. A. Horowitz in 1964. [cite book | author=Horowitz, I. A. | title=Chess Openings: Theory and Practice | publisher=Simon & Schuster | year=1964 | id=ISBN 0-671-20553-6 | pages=p. 780] Chess diagram small|=
tright|
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rd|nd|bd|qd|kd|bd| |rd|=
pd| |pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|pd|=
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pl|pl|pl|pl|pl|pl| |pl|=
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1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b5The Polish is closely related to theSt. George Defence (1.e4 a6, usually followed by 2.d4 b5) into which it often transposes.Boris Spassky played 1.d4 b5 againstTigran Petrosian in the decisive 22nd game of their world championship match in . Spassky equalized as black ["MCO-14", p.503 note (j)] but rejected an opportunity to draw as he was behind by a point in the match and with at most three games remaining he was practically forced to play for a win. Petrosian won the game, thus ensuring that he would retain his title. [ [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1128727 Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian vs Boris Spassky] game score. (Chessgames.com)]The Polish can be used to combat certain variations of the
Réti Opening orKing's Indian Attack . [cite web | url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/explorer?node=2492623&move=3&moves=Nf3.Nf6.g3.b5&nodes=74.98.124903.2492623 | title=Chess Opening Explorer: 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b5 | publisher=Chessgames.com | accessdate=2007-05-02] In particular, 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b5 is a fully respectable opening that has been successfully played by former World ChampionAnatoly Karpov , among others. [cite book | author=Mednis, Edmar | authorlink=Edmar Mednis | title=How Karpov Wins | edition=2nd ed. | publisher=Dover | year=1994 | id=ISBN 0486278816 | pages=p. 128] [cite web | url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067691 | title=Saidy v. Karpov, San Antonio 1972 | publisher=Chessgames.com | accessdate=2007-05-02] [cite web | url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1067748 | title=Korchnoi v. Karpov, Moscow 1973 | publisher=Chessgames.com | accessdate=2007-05-02] It prepares tofianchetto Black's queen bishop and prevents White from playing the otherwise desirable c4. Note that here 3.e4 would allow 3...Nxe4. White is in any event pretty much committed to fianchettoing his king bishop rather than developing it along the f1-a6 diagonal.References
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