ECO A00 · Polish Opening

Polish Opening: Symmetrical Variation

1. b4 b5

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

2. a4+0.48

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Polish Opening: Symmetrical Variation (A00), reached after 1. b4 b5, Stockfish 18 recommends 2. a4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.48).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.482. a4 e6 3. c3 bxa4 4. Qxa4 Bb7 5. e3 c5 6. Nf3 cxb4
  2. +0.032. e3 a5 3. Bxb5 axb4 4. Bb2 Bb7 5. Nf3 e6 6. a3 Nf6
  3. 0.002. Bb2 a5 3. e3 axb4 4. Bxb5 Bb7 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. a3 e6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Polish Opening: Symmetrical Variation?
After 1. b4 b5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2. a4 for White, continuing e6 3. c3 bxa4 4. Qxa4 Bb7 5. e3 c5 6. Nf3 cxb4. White is slightly better (+0.48). The next best moves are 2. e3 (+0.03) and 2. Bb2 (0.00).
Is the Polish Opening: Symmetrical Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.48: 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: Symmetrical 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+).