Theoria
8765432abcdefgh1

Indian Defense

Polish Variation

A46offbeatpositional

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.Nf3b5
741 games50%44%

An offbeat Indian Defense line, 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b5, in which Black stops c4 and prepares a queenside fianchetto; also called the Polish Defense Deferred.

Train it in Theoria

About the Polish Variation

The Polish Variation, also known as the Polish Defense Deferred, delays the ...b5 of the original Polish Defense (1. d4 b5) until White has played 2. Nf3. With the knight on f3 rather than a pawn on e4, the b5-pawn is less exposed, and the move rules out c4 while preparing ...Bb7. Modern Chess Openings considers this version much safer than 1...b5. White usually replies with quiet development such as 3. e3, 3. Bf4 or 3. g3, and engines give White a slight edge.

Popular continuations