It is overrated, not under-rated.  There are systems that assure white of lasting advantage against the Polish when played by human opponents.

I have played the St. George on many occasions, and my record with it is something like 7-3 or 8-3, including wins over three 1900s (I was 1600+ at those times).  I would start from 1.e4 e6 as Black, because I'm a die-hard French Defense player.  The problem I encountered was that if White didn't indulge Black by playing 2.d4, and instead played 2.d3, protecting the e-pawn, then Black's main source of counterplay, pressuring the e4-pawn (and square!), is much more iffy, and for that reason, I stopped playing it.  

I also played the "Reversed St. George", or 1.a3 followed by b4 and e3.  I had more luck with that, but if Black doesn't oblige by playing ...e5 and ...d5, you pretty much wind up in the same boat.  And, Black's best against 1.a3 is probably 1...g6, when 2.b4 is, shall we say, not in Black's best interest.  Obviously, ...d5 and ...e5 aren't bad, but what ends up happening is that White usually has no better choice than to transpose into an English Opening, which kind of defeats the purpose of playing the Reversed St. George as an opening in its own right.

Anyway, the Basman book is excellent (I had the earlier one and gave it away; I was lucky enough to find the newer book at a chess tournament bookseller a long time ago), but to me the St. George and Reversed St. George don't quite measure up to what I would call an independent opening.  They don't LOSE, but there are ways to neutralize it.

My two cents...

Hi, 

i do play this a lot as black and with much of success, most of the time. Still, this may be due to surprise and unprepared opponents, as i am playing at approx. 2000 rating only. i have seen this played by strong players very rarely (like in Karpov - Miles), when black won. But still, i do not trust this thing as being correct.

I remember a game i watched live, when white crushed black with the surprising a4-a5 push, followed by opening the centre. But that game was very tactical and way above my level.

Concerning your Q: i do not decide that without knowing the position, because both moves (cxd or c4 by black) have their drawback: the long term problem with the weak Bb7, when white pushes e5. therefore i would need a more or less tactical justification to play such a move, especially as it opens Nc3 possibilities for w.

Hi Folks,
Not sure if it belongs here but the look on my oponents face is usually one of surprise

I have played the following idea about 20 time and I am looking for some guidance.

The idea goes 1.d4 b5. 2.e4 Bb7 3. Bd3 e6 and black will play a6 and c5

I have also got the position from 1.e4 e6 2. d4 a6  3.Nf3/Bd3 b5.

Most times white does not take on c5 and I am left wondering do I take on d4 or push c4 hitting the Bishop
Gearoid