ECO A00 · Polish Opening

Polish Opening: Baltic Defense

1. b4 d5 2. Bb2 Bf5

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3. Nf3−0.19

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Polish Opening: Baltic Defense (A00), reached after 1. b4 d5 2. Bb2 Bf5, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Nf3 for White. The position is roughly equal (−0.19).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.193. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. a3 c5 6. bxc5 Bxc5 7. c4 Nc6
  2. −0.213. a3 a5 4. b5 Nf6 5. e3 e6 6. Nf3 Bd6 7. Be2 Nbd7
  3. −0.213. e3 e6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. a3 a5 6. b5 Nbd7 7. Be2 Bg6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Polish Opening: Baltic Defense?
After 1. b4 d5 2. Bb2 Bf5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Nf3 for White, continuing Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. a3 c5 6. bxc5 Bxc5 7. c4 Nc6. The position is roughly equal (−0.19). The next best moves are 3. a3 (−0.21) and 3. e3 (−0.21).
Is the Polish Opening: Baltic Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.19: the position is roughly equal. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Polish Opening: Baltic Defense?
A00. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).