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Chess Opening Theory/1. f4/1...d5

< Chess Opening Theory | 1. f4
Bird's Opening
a b c d e f g h
8a8 black rookb8 black knightc8 black bishopd8 black queene8 black kingf8 black bishopg8 black knighth8 black rook8
7a7 black pawnb7 black pawnc7 black pawnd7 black kinge7 black pawnf7 black pawng7 black pawnh7 black pawn7
6a6 black kingb6 black kingc6 black kingd6 black kinge6 black kingf6 black kingg6 black kingh6 black king6
5a5 black kingb5 black kingc5 black kingd5 black pawne5 black kingf5 black kingg5 black kingh5 black king5
4a4 black kingb4 black kingc4 black kingd4 black kinge4 black kingf4 white pawng4 black kingh4 black king4
3a3 black kingb3 black kingc3 black kingd3 black kinge3 black kingf3 black kingg3 black kingh3 black king3
2a2 white pawnb2 white pawnc2 white pawnd2 white pawne2 white pawnf2 black kingg2 white pawnh2 white pawn2
1a1 white rookb1 white knightc1 white bishopd1 white queene1 white kingf1 white bishopg1 white knighth1 white rook1
a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)

rnbqkbnr/ppp1pppp/8/3p4/5P2/8/PPPPP1PP/RNBQKBNR w

Moves: 1.f4 d5
ECO code: A03

Bird's Opening

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1...d5

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From here, one possible reply is to treat the position as a Dutch Defence reversed. As in the Dutch, white can either fianchetto with 2. g3 (Leningrad Dutch) or go for the Stonewall with 2. e3, soon followed by d4 and c3.

Another possible motive is to go with a uniquely "Bird" strategy of dark-square control. The plan is to develop the King's knight to f3, to fianchetto the dark-square bishop with b3 and Bb2, and to focus in further pressure on the e5 square, sometimes with Qe1 and Qg3. Depending on the position, the white-squared bishop can go either on e2 or on b5 (with the idea to exchange it for the black knight on c6 and clear the way for the move Nf3-e5). The main problem with the arising positions is where to put the b1 knight. Sometimes c3 or d2 are good squares, but at other times, (especially if black pushes d5, c5, d4), it may be good to play a4 and put the knight on a3, with increased queenside control and flexible options.

A third strategy is simply to play for the break e4. The logical moves are d3, Nd2, and Qe1. Note that the king's bishop will go to e2 if black plays Bg4.

Theory table

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For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1.f4 d5
2
Nf3
Nf6		 =
e3
Nf6		 =
b3
Bg4		 =
Williams Gambit e4
dxe4		 -/+

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Wikipedia has related information at Bird's Opening

References

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  • Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.
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