Bird's Opening
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Bird's Opening is a chess opening characterised by the move 1.f4 (in algebraic notation). It is named after the 19th century English master, Henry Bird.
According to ChessBase, in master level chess, out of the twenty possible opening moves, 1.f4 ranks seventh in popularity. It is less popular than 1.c4 (the English Opening) mainly because 1.f4 weakens the king's position slightly.
The usual response from Black is 1...d5, when the game can take on the character of a reversed Dutch Defence (1.d4 f5). White will then often either fianchetto his queen's bishop to increase his hold on the e5 square or adopt a stonewall formation with pawns on d4, e3, and f4 and attempt a kingside attack.
Black may also try From's Gambit: 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 (2.e4 transposes into the King's Gambit) 2...d6 3.exd6 Bxd6. Now White should play 4.Nf3 and must avoid 4.Nc3?? Qh5+ 5.g3 Qxg3+ 5.hxg3 Bxg3 checkmate. White can decline the gambit with 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.e4 dxe5 4.Nf3.
Categories: Chess openings