Outflank Variation

The Outflank Variation, 1. b4 c6, meets the Polish Opening with a quiet pawn move that is aimed squarely at the advanced b-pawn. It does not hit b4 directly. Instead, the c-pawn clears the d8-a5 diagonal so the queen can reach b6 or a5, and it covers b5, which makes White's usual b4-b5 push harder to carry out. It also prepares ...d5 for Black's own central play. White almost always replies 2. Bb2, and the main line continues 2...Qb6, with the queen pressing on b4 and the queenside pawns. Engines prefer 2. e3, 2. Nf3 or 2. a3 and rate the position as level.

After 2. Bb2 a5, White can answer 3. b5, the Schuehler Gambit, which offers the pawn to ...cxb5. The central try 2. e4 transposes to the Labahn Attack of the Caro-Kann Defense, and Black scores clearly better there. Overall results are close to even and draws are rare.