Pikachulord6 wrote:
Hi,
I'm unsure how to respond to 1 f4, Bird's Opening. What are common ways to respond to it and what are the plans behind each of these moves? Thanks!
try to limit whites options and take away from his dark square control
Bird's Opening (1 f4)
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if you are after a more attacking game you could try From's gambit (1.f4 e5)
also, you don't need to fianchetto that dark squared bishop, you can play it like a sicilian (1.f4 c5) or (1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 c5 3.e3 Nc6) is another of the main lines.
i also ran into (1.f4 d6? - probably intending 2 ... e5 to force open th f-file) in a game i'm still playing, not sure if it is entirely sound as black, but i couldn't find anything in any of my books about it, so i'm winging it.
I only play 1...d6 on every white's first move.
Mar 10, 2010
0
#5
The line in post#2 is decent for black. You can also play d6 and then expand with c5.
Mar 10, 2010
0
#6
Estragon wrote:
Fischer played the Bird as White only once, vs Smyslov in the Super-Blitz event held just after the Zagreb "Tournament of Peace" in 1970 (he won both events handily).
The last two times he faced Bird's as Black, he played ...Nf6, ...c5, ...g6, ...Bg7, and ...d6, setting up something similar to a Dragon Sicilian formation against it. A very sound approach.
Bird's is a risky opening because it can result in a dnagerous weakness at e3.
The Pirc has the same move order and it's relatively easy to at least equalize if not do better. White's best bet then might be to transpose into an Austrian attack
FirebrandX wrote:
A more annoying line for Bird players is an early Bg4. Either d6 - Bg4 or d5 Bg4. A friend of mine is a life-long master of the Bird and he himself employs the early Bg4 against it.
But you can't go wrong with the more traditional d5 - Nf6 - g6 formation, effectively playing a Dutch in reverse.
but with Bg4 white gets to do the polar bear attack! whats the name of the GM that plays it? Danielson?
FirebrandX wrote:
A more annoying line for Bird players is an early Bg4. Either d6 - Bg4 or d5 Bg4. A friend of mine is a life-long master of the Bird and he himself employs the early Bg4 against it.
But you can't go wrong with the more traditional d5 - Nf6 - g6 formation, effectively playing a Dutch in reverse.
That's the line I play, somewhat it looks like a King's Gambit Declined
You can always just resign. Especially if you are playing against me.
Seriously, there are many ways to play the Bird. I like to play the Larsen Variation. This includes a fianchetto of the Queen's Bishop. The Bird can also turn into a Stonewall Attack with d4 so there is no one answer to your question.
Good rapid development is the answer to playing against any opening that you are unfamiliar with.
Anyone that plays E4 after Bg4 hasn't a clue how to play the Birds' opening. A simple E3 should suffice. There is nothing wrong with the Birds' Opening despite prostrations about weakening of E3. All openings have weakenings and positives and any other comments are simply junk!
I like to handle the position a bit like a reversed Nimzo or Bogo Indian.
A Kingside fianchetto is also popular.
I used to play the Bird sometimes but I gave it up because of always losing to the From Gambit. Of course, when I got to play the From Gambit against the Bird, I managed to lose that, too.
I've been playing the Dutch as black for a while now, and I recently decided to try it from the white side with an extra tempo. I bought Timothy Taylor's book on Bird's Opening, so I could learn how to flip the bird properly. 
I only just got the book in the mail today, so I haven't had time to look through it, but I think the fact that he spends 50 pages on From's Gambit really says a lot. As black in a turn based game, where you can look things up in game databases, this is probably what I'd try. OTB, I'd probably go for the main lines.
Fromper wrote:
I've been playing the Dutch as black for a while now, and I recently decided to try it from the white side with an extra tempo. I bought Timothy Taylor's book on Bird's Opening, so I could learn how to flip the bird properly.
I only just got the book in the mail today, so I haven't had time to look through it, but I think the fact that he spends 50 pages on From's Gambit really says a lot. As black in a turn based game, where you can look things up in game databases, this is probably what I'd try. OTB, I'd probably go for the main lines.
yeah as long as you know a little on the froms you will be fine. sure, just like any gambit black is going to get a few knockouts from time to time, but 1...d5 is going to score a lot better.
From what I've read so far, my conclusions are as follows (Correct me if I'm wrong):
The From Gambit is the most dangerous for White, but if White knows what he's doing, it isn't the best choice for Black.
1...d5 is a solid reply that causes the game to end up like a reversed Dutch.
1...c5 is also a possible transposition into the Sicilian. My question is if there is any risk of White employing a maneuver to avoid this transposition that might be dangerous to Black.
Is 1...Nh6 and 1...d6 worth playing? I understand that they're not completely senseless, but they don't appear to be the best options either.
Is 1...b6 a legitimate response?
Finally, is there a main line to the Bird?
Thank you everyone for taking the time to answer my questions. I know that my questions don't have definite answers, but I find it very helpful to read your responses. 
Can't answer all the questions, but I will say that 1. ... c5 doesn't have to transpose to a Siclian. As a Classical Dutch player as black, I sometimes see the English without d4, usually involving d3 instead. I'd think the Sicilian attempt would be the same thing, with colors reversed. I'd keep on playing the Classical line, possibly with the queen side fianchetto, once I read about that in Taylor's book.
Hi,
I'm unsure how to respond to 1 f4, Bird's Opening. What are common ways to respond to it and what are the plans behind each of these moves? Thanks!