ECO A00 · Polish Opening

Polish Opening: Karniewski Variation

1. b4 Nh6

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

2. Nf3+0.37

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Polish Opening: Karniewski Variation (A00), reached after 1. b4 Nh6, Stockfish 18 recommends 2. Nf3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.37).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.372. Nf3 e6 3. a3 a5 4. Bb2 axb4 5. axb4 Rxa1 6. Bxa1 b6
  2. +0.352. Bb2 b6 3. e3 Bb7 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Nf5 6. b5 a6
  3. +0.252. a3 a5 3. Bb2 d6 4. b5 Nd7 5. d4 e5 6. Nc3 g6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Polish Opening: Karniewski Variation?
After 1. b4 Nh6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2. Nf3 for White, continuing e6 3. a3 a5 4. Bb2 axb4 5. axb4 Rxa1 6. Bxa1 b6. White is slightly better (+0.37). The next best moves are 2. Bb2 (+0.35) and 2. a3 (+0.25).
Is the Polish Opening: Karniewski Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.37: white is slightly better. 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: Karniewski Variation?
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+).