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Thread: Bird's Opening - A formidable armament

  1. #1
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    Default Bird's Opening - A formidable armament

    Here's the wiki on the Bird's Opening (normally reached, immediately, via 1.f4):

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird%2...lank%20opening.

    This opening is generally suitable for attacking players who are willing to go a bit offbeat. Also, if you like the look of the Dutch Defence, but you may or may not believe White should get a clear edge against that, then the Bird's might be an attractive choice when playing with White.

    An issue for Bird's players may be the From Gambit (1.f4 e5). Some players won't like having to carefully defend with White after 2.fxe5, especially if they haven't studied the line in a while - even though many sources prefer White these days. One solution is to transpose to the King's Gambit, with 2.e4, moreso if you already play that opening (after 1.e4 e5). Note too that many players don't play 1.e4 e5 as Black these days, and aren't willing to prepare for the KG, so it seems Bird's players might seldom face the From in practice nowadays.

    Another way to avoid the From, if it still seems a bother, is to hope to transpose to some variation of the Bird's after a different first move as White that you build a White repertoire [choice] around. Namely 1.b3, 1.c3, 1.d3, 1.e3 or 1.g3. After 1.g3 d5 I wouldn't recommend an immediate 2.f4 though, as the berserk attack with 2...h5 looks too dangerous in that instance. Note in case of 1.c3 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.cxd4 d5 Black has a fairly equal version of a QGD Exchange, as he can aim for ...c6 (to permit ...Qb6 in reply to Qb3) and then ...Bf5 before White can deploy both of his bishops in ideal fashion. Emmanuel Lasker once played 3.Qxd4!? in a simul instead, virtually reaching a Scandinavian Defence a tempo up, but objectively Black ought to be comfortable here too.

    Here's a link to a thread about the King's Gambit:

    https://www.chesscanada.info/forum/s...ing%27s+Gambit
    Last edited by Kevin Pacey; 06-21-2021 at 02:17 PM. Reason: Adding link
    There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
    Hamlet (1.5.167-8), Hamlet to Horatio.

  2. #2
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    Decades ago, I played the Bird's for a few years, but I wasn't very dynamic with it. That's likely a reflection of my mediocre skill level rather than the opening itself. I also agree about the From's Gambit, you'll rarely see it, but as it can be shocking if it works, transposing to the King's Gambit is a fine recommendation from Kevin.

  3. #3
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    Here's a relatively modern Bird's Opening win for White; winner's rating: 2569 (Black: 2382) at the time:


    [Event "6th Amplico AIG Life Rapid"]
    [Site ""]
    [Date "17.12.2006"]
    [Round ""]
    [White "Bartel, M"]
    [Black "Shkapenko, P"]
    [Result "1-0"]

    1.c3 d5 2.f4 Nf6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.Nf3 g6 6.0-0 Bg7 7.d3 {Reaching a position typical of the Leningrad Dutch Reversed.} 0-0 8.Qe1 b6 9.h3 Ba6 10.g4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Qd7 12.Ne5 Qd6 13.Ndf3 Rac8 14.Qh4 e6 15.Bd2 Qe7 16.Ng5 Rf8 {Black suddenly drops a pawn, plus his house begins to crumble. He'd still be okay after 16...Nd8.} 17.Nxc6 Rxc6 18.Nxh7 Re8 19.Ng5 e5 {Better is 19...c4. Now White can soon win as he pleases.} 20.fxe5 {Another way, straight off, is 20.c4 +-} Qxe5 21. Rf2 Qe7 22.Raf1 Rd6 23.Bf4 Rc6 24.Bxd5 Nxd5 25.Qh7+ Kf8 26.Bd6 1-0
    There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
    Hamlet (1.5.167-8), Hamlet to Horatio.

  4. #4
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    Default

    thanks, cool game (especially thanks that you posted it in a playable format!)

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