Why play 1. f4?

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Rick56

"People can argue that 1. d4 and 1. Nf3 serve similar purpose to claim control over the e5 square.  And yes, that argument is true - they claim control over e5.  However, there is one thing that 1. f4 does that these other systems do not do...Advance a pawn forward two squares".. F4 and D4 both advance a pawn forward two squares.

Aside from that the rest was well written and had valid arguments. I'm not a chess expert but I did want to say that I believe it is a decent opening for white. My first win against a computer EVER was using the Bird Opening. It was the first, and last time I used it after learning the book line :) Still, I like the idea of playing a tournament with just the Bird's Opening. So if I see the name, i'll click Join.

Nice forum.

BirdsDaWord

Rick, that quote said that f4 marches a pawn forward two squares "on the kingside".

Rick, at the moment, I am not a premium member, but I am certain you could create a tourney and post the link on here and get people to sign up!

Rick56

Sure, and just to keep tradition:

http://www.chess.com/tournament/birdbrain-invitational-no-4

Come on and join the tournament if you like to play with or against the Bird's Opening!

jenyes

Im not sure if anyone has stated the obvious, but 1.f4 is essentially a reversed Dutch Defense, one move ahead. The grip on e5 is very similar to the Dutch grip on e4. White can choose to fix the pawn structure with d4 like with ...d5 in the Dutch. The kingside attacks and pawn storms are similar.... If you like the Dutch, try Birds opening. I suck on here but I won the VA Amateur Championship a few years back by a clear point (6 rounds) and I played 1.f4 exclusively. For you tournament players, it's also easy to prepare, relatively speaking.

BirdsDaWord

This is an old thread I posted a LONG time ago, but I wanted to share this game I just played due to the sheer madness of the positions right off the bat.  This is a variation a guy in the Bird's Opening Lovers group dubbed the "Hurricane".  I played the variation in his honor and got a 27-move win.

http://www.chess.com/livechess/game?id=680345431

Swindlers_List
jenyes wrote:

Im not sure if anyone has stated the obvious, but 1.f4 is essentially a reversed Dutch Defense, one move ahead. The grip on e5 is very similar to the Dutch grip on e4. White can choose to fix the pawn structure with d4 like with ...d5 in the Dutch. The kingside attacks and pawn storms are similar.... If you like the Dutch, try Birds opening. I suck on here but I won the VA Amateur Championship a few years back by a clear point (6 rounds) and I played 1.f4 exclusively. For you tournament players, it's also easy to prepare, relatively speaking.

Not really, in the dutch 1.d4 f5 white has already weakened the e4 square by moving his d pawn two squares fowards. 1.f4 is premature imo. Personally I enjoy playing froms, but im sure theres some very uncomfortable lines for white where black plays d6 and forces through e5.

TitanCG
BirdBrain wrote:

This is an old thread I posted a LONG time ago, but I wanted to share this game I just played due to the sheer madness of the positions right off the bat.  This is a variation a guy in the Bird's Opening Lovers group dubbed the "Hurricane".  I played the variation in his honor and got a 27-move win.

http://www.chess.com/livechess/game?id=680345431

Crazy game! The move 3.h3 looks dangerous after 3...e5. 

I think 2.e4! is the way to go. GM Danielsen made a quick note on this in  his first polar bear video on youtube. It goes something like 2...fe 3.d3 and well you can probably figure out the rest.Laughing

2...e5 looks interesting and you can get it from the king's gambit but I couldn't make it work. 3.ef (3.fe Qh4+ wins. I got this once.) Qh4+ 4.g3 Qe7 5.fe (5.Qh5+ Kd8 is supposed to be normal) and I'm not sure what Black is doing.

LukeBomber

well personally because neither the knight or the bishop can defend the king, it exposes the O-O castle and its a very inefficient and slow way to devolop your bishops or your G1 knight for that sake. 

davepa1

it seems to me there is an obvious reason: blacks moves can be anticipated...most everyone will go for the weakened king, because thats the trade...bearing down on E5, but weakening the king side. Obvious defenses and attacks ensue.
So i think the question a better question is: whats the fastest way to the weak king with this opening, or what is the most winning first four moves for the bird opening?

SAGM001

Bird's is not Refuted 

BronsteinPawn

The OP was such a patzer. 1.f4 is refuted by King's Indian systems.

After 1.d4 f5 White has already weakened e4.

After 1.f4 Black has not weakened e5.

SAGM001

Bronstein Pawn ? I thought he liked Knights .tongue.png

BronsteinPawn

Wut? Im confused