Why play the bird's opening?

What is the point of it?

It only opens up the king and blocks the dark squared bishop

So why do some people, and even some masters play it?

cuz ur conntrolling the center

i play barnes and scicilian

"It only opens up the king and blocks the dark squared bishop". If that was in fact the ONLY thing it did it would be bad. Chess lesson 101 : control the center of the board.

I doubt anyone takes up the birds opening very seriously, probably more of a "try a new opening" whim

I'll crush people with the birds man

I score overall 59% with white.

What's the point in playing f4 at any point in the game?

1. Out of opening book

2. Your territory

3. Aggressive kingside intentions (h3-g4)

4. Double-edged

5. Not refuted, unlike the king's gambit

Looks like you've got some issues there with 1...Nf6.  Not saying it's the best move theoretically, but against you, it dominates!

Anybody listening out there?  You see the recipe to beat SNUDOO when you have Black!  LOL!

actually, it usually transposes into a leningrad. 

1... Nc6 is much more problematic

my problem is against 1...c6 if I don't play 2.f4, they play 2...f5 and lock the game. I currently have a daily game where it isn't going so well for me there, haha. It's against this Cyanite (or something) guy.

@cyanicete

just play whatever opening boats your float

Orangutan is the worst probably

what about hippopotamus

just my games on chesscom

and sorry, you can't refute the bird's. 

very passive, white gets +1 for developing pieces.

I won't, since you can't.

Only people with 400IQ can handle the birds

ah, I have 401.35. That's why I score 50%+ !!