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deeper_insight 26-Sep-16, 14:27	A bit more on some chess opening misconceptions,Sokolsky and others... Too many players over the years ask me about some of the less popular openings like,for example,the Sokolsky(1.b4) and fear using such an openings,since the GM's rarely play these irregulars in a super tournament and also that the "stats"are not as good for winning as the standard e4,d4 or Nf3 openings.I do agree with all of these facts! While I also use "stats"to guide players,however,these percentages many times are based upon different "sub"stats.Some charts are based upon master level averages,others are more diverse based upon 1900 and above,and other charts you can find are based upon a much smaller % with GM usage over the decades.Stats can be confusing,indeed,and one chart will vary from another! Do all of these "stats"give you a definite probability of how you will personally succeed in using a Sok or a Basman Defense? Answer:Not necessarily! Just the element of surprise,your rating and your opponents rating abilities,especially on levels below master can vastly fluctuate your success with a 1.b4 opening. Should you never use 1.b4 because the "stats"are not as good as 1.e4 or 1.d4? Answer:No! One of the reasons is obvious.Your opponent may open up with 1.b4 some day and if you are not prepared or have no experience with 1.b4,even playing the black side,you could swiftly crumble in a game that looks alien to you.I have seen much higher win results using the Sok and the Basman that appears to "contradict" the stats!Same with openings like the Trompowsky Attack....one of my favorites....and I have some very good winning results with the Tromp which tends to move out of book quickly. Here for example,are some general Wiki stats on the Sok: en.wikibooks.org More club info on the Sok: gameknot.com Now,as you can clearly read,white still wins more than black on some like 37% vs 22%(black).Then there are a few GM games where the % was white win 46%,black 24%. Then of course,the link above will tell you that these percentages are not nearly as good as opening with 1.e4(for example). Yes,well....so what!!!!!? Forget these stats!!!!!Do not avoid practicing,playing,experimenting and researching such irregulars! It is important to become well rounded in all openings and opening defenses.Perhaps not necessarily as a player below 1800 in rating...then yes,concentrate on the more standard openings and opening defenses.But eventually you need to move on to to more obscure irregulars.You may actually find yourself doing quite well in the Sokolsky,for example. Keep in mind some facts on a positve note with the Sokolsky(Wiki): 1.b4 This opening is also known as "Polish Opening" or "The Orangutan". Some common ideas motivating this move: Fianchettoing is often a good idea, why not grab a little space? At some point a quick b4-b5 might dislodge a knight on c6. Trading the b-pawn for the c-pawn may give white central power. If 1...e5 or 1...e6, usual play either continues with 2.a3 or 2.Bb2. The idea after Bb2 is that the black can't play Bxb4 right away, anyway. E.g., 1.b4 e6 2.Bb2 Bxb4? 3.Bxg7 where black loses material, and 1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4!? 3.Bxe5 and black loses a central pawn for a flank pawn. As I have said many times before....1.b4 is not a terrible way to open,is not dramatically a weaker opening as 1.e4,1.d4 or 1.Nf3 and for surprise value can defeat those fearful "stats"that many of you GK players rely on "too heavily"! A win of mine on GK against an "A"rated player,using the Sokolsky.I won in 14 moves! game So what was that about stats?Is this "A"rated player stronger than you?If so,should he not have atleast drawn with me or did better than 14 moves? Yes,no,maybe? It does not matter!The shock and awe with some irregulars can burn up your opponent,just as fast as I did here!You might be saying..."well,TA,look at the rating difference between that opponent and yourself!" My response?So???????????? 14 moves tells the story!My rating has little bearing on a game that only lasted 14 moves,especially against a 1900+player! Some players are so accustomed to the standard openings,that they can get a form of "brain freeze"when confronted with the unusual!So experiment!Do not avoid the lesser statistical performing irregulars simply because some database tells you to stay clear! Now,logically,the Basman Defense,has stats that are worse than the Sokolsky,especially since it is being played from the black side.So,I am not necessarily recommending rated play with a Basman Defense game.I use it extensively with my blitz play and i'm highly successful with it since the pawn configuration patterns vastly differ from other mainline defenses(see my Basman Defense club post).The creepy crawly Kingside pawn shuttling many times surprises white,regardless of the "stats"you will read up on,telling you to steer clear of the Basman. So the summary motto that TA suggests is to NOT always put too much "weight"into those stats!Experiment,explore,and enjoy the obscure irregulars!Play a good # of Soks,Basmans and Trompowskys unrated if you fear them or are not aquainted with them so much! Become familiar with these little gem openings and defenses...to be better prepared and round out your chess experiences!Sure,you may have tried some of these irregulars and have failed in the past to do well.Well,so what?????Try and try again!!!!Perhaps you did not research the "best"variations and subvariational lines of that Sok or Basman?See,there are stats within stats!!!Some lines will "outperform"other lines!It took me years to determine which "lines"will do better than others.If you did terrible in the 5 games you played in your life playing the Sok or the Basman,is that a true indicator of how you will or should do with better extensive research and 100's of more games played with the 1.b4 or 1.e4,g5 opening or opening defense?Absolutely not!!!It takes "patience"and a long endurance and hard work to succeed!!! Too many GK players want overly fast results and have no desire to truly study,look at the books,invest,dream and ask the right questions.Silver platters do not suddenly appear with "stats"or what the next GK player tells you in some forum or other club! Best, TA
deeper_insight 26-Sep-16, 14:45	Just one of my books from my personal library... worth obtaining if your interested in some of the surprise value of 1.b4: www.amazon.com Its well worth the read.This gem helped me reach 2600 in rating a few years ago on a well known blitz site,but results can be positive even in your long corresp games! TA

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