The Sokolsky Opening
We learned previously that A. Alekhine called 1.b4 "an old move" in his 1924 commentary on the Tartakower-Maroczy game. Old maybe, but little played in top tournaments. There is a game Huntington-Kemeny, New York 1891 and then the Tartakower game mentioned above; from that time 1.b4 gets very little attention until Sokolsky himself defeated Salo Flohr (Moscow 1953) using this move.
Alexey Pavlovich Sokolsky was a prominent chess theoretician and correspondence player, very strong and active on the tournament circuit. Among his many books, the 1963 pamphlet "Debyut 1.b2-b4" sets out his research into this chess opening. Perhaps it is fair then that Tartakower's Orangutan should should bear Sokolsky's name instead.
As threatened, here are five home grown efforts using 1.b4 in tournament and correspondence play.
A move like 1.b4 is not liked by many chess players, but many who handle the Black pieces don't like it either. Eccentric, provocative and even insulting - such factors cannot be overlooked. And while 1.b4 remains experimental in reputation it's practical value is quite good. So whether you call it the Orangutan Opening or the Sokolsky Opening, try adding 1.b4 to your repertoire!