Christian Bauer has a nice book out on 1...b6. Doesn't cover the move in response to 1.f4, but I suspect that it's certainly playable. In some 1...b6 games, White will eventually play f4 but usually not until late opening (e.g., move 11). My ChessBase database has a couple hundred games with 1.f4 b6!?, and Black does fine. In fact, Black wins 55-45! In games in which both players were 2400+, Black has 3 wins and 2 draws. In the only game with both players 2500+, Smyslov beats Ljubojevic with the 1...b6 game plan. Seems worth pursuing to me.
Offbeat responses
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Jan 30, 2009
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I'm interested in exploring some offbeat black responses to offbeat white openings. There are some openings traditionally frowned upon that I think might be effective weapons against flank openings. Part of my reasoning is that many players who choose openings other than e4 and d4 feel confident in their superior knowledge of their pet opening. By replying with something equally offbeat, their confidence is undermined. Let's start with Bird's opening.
For example, 1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 and I think most people would feel more comfortable playing white. However, what about 1. f4 b6 ? Suddenly, this f4 player is thrown off. His best move is probably 2. e4 transposing into a king pawn game he wasn't prepared for. I don't think that most people would want to play 1. e4 b6 2. f4 , but this is essentially what has happened. So, are 1...b6 1...b5 and 1...a7 potentially more effective against 1. f4 than against 1. e4 ?