Transitioning from 1.f4?

Hi,

I've played the Bird for a long time now, but am looking to change to a more solid/respected opening against the more serious opponents.

I'd like to know if any of you knows what sort of openings share some similarities with 1.f4, in terms of middle game ideas, piece placement or other main patterns?

I've found Larsen's Opening 1.b3 or the Reverse Dutch Stonewall as two promising lines, but 1.b3 requires quite a bit of preparation against the endless lines black has, and reverse dutch seems just as shaky as the bird albeit for different reasons.

I am actually in the process of writing an article on 1.b3 for a magazine.  There are a lot of problems for White with 1.b3 e5 if Black knows what he is doing.

I would suggest the following for White if you want something more sound with similarities to 1.f4.

1.e4 -

1...c5 - Closed Sicilian, Spassky Variation - 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6 6.f4

1...e5 - Vienna Game, 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 or 2...Nc6 3.f4 exf4

1...e6 - The main lines with Nc3 - 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 and almost every line features an attack on the kingside.  Steinitz (3...Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 is immediately followed by 5.f4), Winawer (h4 is more common than f4 here, but 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3 6.bxc3 Ne7 and now 7.h4 is a very aggressive line and a little less well known at the Amateur level than 7 Qg4), and there is no Classical or McCutchen to worry about if you play the Steinitz.

1...c6 - While not an early f4, the fantasy variation has the aggressive kingside attack nature of 1.f4.

I'm just speculating that when you played 1 f4 you were aiming to get ne5 at some point. So I will make suggestions based on this premise.

The colle koltanowski aims for this setup against d5 lines, although white starts modestly with d4 e3 nf3 bd3, b3 bb2. Please note that I don't recommend playing these moves or any other of my suggestions mindlessly. 

There is a line in either the 4 bd2 or 4 e3 nimzo that white plays this ne5 and f4 idea. Probably more common to reach it via 4 bd2. But black has to play the nimzo.

There is this rae1, ne5 and f4 plan in the queen's gambit exchange variation with nf3. This is more likely to be reached as many play the queen's gambit declined with e6 and d5 and the only way to deviate from cxd5 exd5 is to take with the knight instead, or take on c4 before white can play cxd5. In both cases black concedes some control of the center.

Some lines of the london system against d5 queen's gambit declined lines feature f4 and ne5. Sometimes white manages to exchange the dark square bishop before this happens, other times he just makes room for f4 with bf4-g3 or h2.

I'm sure you'll find a lot of resources by googling these things. Even in this forum there might be some already. I just don't know where they are.

I personally don't like 1 f4 or even the f4 plans in general. It's too commital for me. But I am aware of its merits.

I would say 1.b3 or 1.Nf3 followed by a quick 2.b3 would give similar style games. But if you used to be a Leningrad player... can't help much except to give a new move order to reach the tabiya, which is clearly not what you're looking for.