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Birds Opnening is named after Henry Bird, who popularized the line in the 1850s. It is fast becoming a favorite choice of blitz and tournament players alike, because to this day there is only scarce information and theory about the chess opening.The Bird ches openingstarts with 1. f4. For those not familiar with algebraic chess notation, that means to move the king's bishop pawn up two squares (as shown in the article image). Thrusting that pawn forward as the first move can throw the player with the black pieces off their game quickly, especially if they are used to the stock 1. e4 or 1. d4 game starters (king or queen pawn up two squares).The idea for the early f4 thrust is really two-fold: it takes immediate control of the crucial e5 square in the center, and it creates a semi-open file for the rook after the king castles, written as 0-0 (for castles king-side; castling queen-side is written 0-0-0). Later in the game, the white player is much closer to pushing the f-pawn to f5 should he or she need to, in order to break open black's position.The normal "book" reply (a book reply means that the move has been officially accepted as a documented theoretical reply) for black is 1... d5 (or moving the pawn in front of the queen up two squares). That move prevents white from moving an immediate pawn to e4, claiming more of the center. White then develops the knight to f3, which further controls the e5 square.White has many options in the Bird's chess opening. One opportunity is to play the g pawn up one to g3 and develop the bishop to g2, taking control of the long diagonal. Another option is to play e3, which prevents black from playing pawn to e4 and simultaneously prepares the e2 square for the bishop.The idea in most games is to play for an eventual pawn to e4, breaking up the center and taking control of black's king-side squares. The coolest thing about the Bird's chess openingis that there is very little theory, or book, on the subject. You are pretty much free to invent as you go. Here is a link Videos on Bird's opening

Category – Semi Open Game Opening Move Sequence – 1 e4 c6 ECO Codes – B10 and B19 Named after Englishman Horatio Caro and Austrian Marcus Kann, this opening was studied by them in nineteenth century. It is a less fluid than Sicilian and French Openings, both of which like Caro-Kann fall under the category of Semi-open Game openings that begin with 1 e4 without 1 ... e5. Caro-Kann usually results in a better endgame for Black due to a superior pawn structure. Caro-Kann defense has the ECO codes B10 to B19 Moves and Variations 1 e4 c6 This is usually followed by 2 d4 d5 And then by one of, 3 Nc3, 3 Nd2, 3 exd5, or 3 e5. 3 Nc3 or 3 Nd2 Classical or Capablanca Variation This considered the best for both sides and usually continues; 1 e4 c6, 2 d4 d5, 3 Nc3 (or 3 Nd2) dxe4, 4 Nxe4 Bf5, 5 Ng3 Bg6, followed by 6 h4 h6, 7 Nf3 Nd7, 8 h5 Bh7, 9 Bd3 Bxd3, 10 Qxd3. Reputation for solidity acquired by Caro-Kann is due primarily to this variation. Black has strong defenses due to the superb pawn structure, preponderance of Black pawns in King-side, and the option to castle on Queen-side, King-side or do without castling. Steinitz Variation (also called Nimzowitsch Variation or Smyslov Variation) This variation also gives Black a solid defensive position. 1 e4 c6, 2 d4 d5, 3 Nc3 (or 3 Nd2) dxe4, 4 Nxe4 Nd7. Used by players at highest level the main difference from Classical variation is that Black gains time and mobility by postponing the Bishop's development. As a result White can stake a greater claim in center however and be more belligerent (by playing 5 Ng5 for instance) Bronstein-Larsen Variation This variations follow the moves; 1 e4 c6, 2 d4 d5, 3 Nc3 dxe4, 4 Nxe4 Nf6!?, 5 Nxf6 gxf6!?. Here Black in return for weak pawn structure in King-side and almost required castling on Queen-side gets more mobility and dynamic play through open g file. Analysts are not convinced about its benefits but it has been used with success at tournaments. Korchnoi Variation This follows the Bronstein-Larsen Variation moves till fifth White move. Then Black plays 5 ... exf6, aiming at rapid development. Analysts have opined that this move is better than 5 ... gxf6!?, used in other variation. 3 e5 (Advance Variation) This can be replied with 3 ... Bf5 or 3 ... c5. 3 ... Bf5 is the popular reply (especially after a famous classic game between Aron Nimzowitsch and Jose Raul Capablanca in 1927 which Nimzowitsch lost). Main variations from here are 4 Nc3 e6, 5 g4 (known as Bayonet Attack) or less combative 4 Nf3 e6, 5 Be2 c5, 6.Be3. Theory however suggest this is better suited to White than Black Alternative 3 ... c5!?, is less studied and as such is full of possibilities. Black does not have the time to play e6 as in French Defense, but White cannot make use of that weakness without weakening his own center. Exchange Variation The Exchange Variation follows 1 e4 c6, 2 d4 d5, 3 exd5 cxd5. This is extended when Panov-Botvinnik Attack begins with White’s 4 c4. This variation is known for its isolated d pawn for White. White in return gets quicker development and initiative. Main line continues; 4 ... Nf6, 5 Nc3 e6 or 5 ... Nc6. Meanwhile Exchange Variation “proper” may continue; 4 Bd3 Nc6, 5 c3 Nf6, 6 Bf4 Bg4, 7 Qb3. Advantage lies with White. The position resembles Queen's Gambit Exchange Variation with sides transposed. Other variations in Caro-Kann 1 e4 c6, 2 Nf3 d5, 3 Nc3 (Two Knights Variation), 1 e4 c6, 2 d4 d5, 3 f3, (Fantasy or Tartakower Variation), similar 1 e4 c6, 2 d4 d5, 3 Nc3 dxe4, 4 f3 (or 4 Bc4 and then 5 f3), transforms to Blackmar-Diemer Gambit, 1 e4 c6, 2 d4 d5, 3 Nc3 g6 (Gurgenidze Variation, 3 Nd2 is also possible here) Some positions in Caro-Kann Defense Variations can also be reached from some lines in English Opening (1 c4) after the moves 1 ... c6, 2 e4 d5.

The Scotch opening is a chess opening that fits in very well with the Rules for the opening from the previous series of chess lessons. In short:- Get a pawn in the centre- Develop your minor pieces- Move your King to safety In the Scotch game it is not only White’s intention to accomplish these goals, but also to prevent Black doing the same. The purpose of the game is to reach an advantageous imbalance. 3. ... exd4 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 The Scotch game. With the move d4 White imediately attacks Black’s pawn in the centre. Black’s normal continuation will be 3... exd4 The pawn has to be captured, because the alternatives are not very promising for Black: 3… d6 4.dxe5 dxe5 5.Qxd8+ Kxd8 The third goal can not be acomplished. 6.Bc4 f6 7.Be3 3… f6 weakens Black’s position of the King 4.Bc4 3… Bd6 blocks Black’s own pieces 4. Nxd4 and now the only pawn in the centre is White’s. Black has to do something about this and will try to increase his influence on the centre. I mention three alternatives, of which I consider 4...Bc5 as the main variation, targeted at an attack of White’s pieces in the centre. Piece development: 4... Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Ba6 ( 8… Nb6 9.Nc3 ) 9.b3 A less frequently played, but interesting alternative 4... Bb4+ but after 5.c3 Bc5 6.Be3 Bb6 7.Bc4 Nge7 8.O-O O-O I prefer to play with the White pieces. 5.Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.g3 More often played is the variation 7.Bc4 Ne5 8.Be2 Qg6 9.O-O d6 but I think that Black may have a slight advantage here. 7… d5 8.Bg2 dxe4 8… Bxd4 9.cxd4 dxe4 10.Nc3 O-O 11.Nxe4 Qg6 12.O-O 9.Nd2 Bxd4 10.cxd4 O-O or 10... Bf5 11.Nxe4 Bxe4 12.Bxe4 11.Nxe4 Qg6 As you can see, the Scotch game is a very nice chess opening. It is an open game and there are a lot of possibilities for tactical manoeuvres. Some links