Why play 1. f4?

 You are very welcome!  I have been playing it for years, and I am still improving.  I guess it goes that way with anything.  But I do get tired of playing something against someone who is "booked", and 1. f4 honestly gives you plenty of opportunity for creativity.  I am very happy to hear that you enjoyed this forum.  I will send you an invite to our group, Bird's Opening Lovers, and I hope you accept!

 True, if White plays 1. f4, Black does not have to commit to 1...d5, BUT White can have every intention of playing a reversed Dutch system if he choses... and in that regard, the systems are related.  True, there are plenty of other options, but truthfully, it goes that way for everything.  There are quite a few codes for the Dutch systems (1. d4 f5), and if you look into many defenses where Black plays 1...f5, they are automatically dubbed as a Dutch SYSTEM (for instance, 1. c4 f5 - the Anglo-Dutch, or 1. b4 f5 - The Polish/Dutch).  I know there are others, such as 1. e4 f5, the Fred Defense, but my point was that there are tons of ways to play the Dutch, and White can honor those ideas in his play almost in spite of Black in many of the systems.  For instance, in the Classical setup, White can just about play the first opening moves regardless of Black, as long as Black doesn't "cross the line" (i.e. early g5 or e5).  And even those aren't detrimental to White's setup - he simply gets to fight over the square early. 

The group Bird's Opening Lovers is running strong with 60+ members.  If you are interested in learning more about 1. f4 in the group, here is the link -

http://www.chess.com/groups/home/birds-opening-lovers

I just played 1. f4 by accident (I was a little too eager to get started I guess), and it actually turned into a pretty nice game with good central control and attacking possibilities on the kingside. I might have to read up on it a bit.

Saman, that group is a GREAT group for learning about the ideas.  Many of the members are also in the 1. b3 group - http://www.chess.com/groups/home/1b3-nimzo-larsen-attack.  Joining both of those groups will give you a THOROUGH understanding of two openings that work hand in hand in many situations!

I played 1.f4 before. I've always liked this setup for White:

From's gambit is mighty fine for Black, but IMHO it has to be played "quietly": ...Nf6, 0-0, Re8. No need for ...g5 complications.

I'll try it, for the moment I am kinda stuck to e4/d4

I'm just finished a game with bird opening. Imho this opening is very defensive in the beginning, waiting for opportunity to strike back and win the game.

Against the Bird, I'll go Nf6-g6-Bg7-0-0 and later c5 and d5 (if he's still holding his e-pawn back). If White plays for g3-Bg2, I would also strongly consider countering with a queenside fianchetto (b6-Bb7). If he's playing the variation with a queenside fianchetto himself, then he's actually transposing into something like a Nimzo-Larsen-Attack. Against this I like to play a KID setup. 

Dinnebolt, it may be true that you hold back, but at the same token, when the timing came, your position came to life. That is the thing about the 1. f4 positions.  They are often like a spring wound up.  Your position offered many typical aggressive opportunities. 

One of my favorite transposition nightmares:

1. f4 e5 2. e4 d5

and I bet neither player is in comfortable territory.

Indeed. I feel bird is like an easy target to attack but when the attack come, there is always a way to defend and then counter it.

Sounds like bruce lee that challenge his opponent to attack him (by his hand waves :p).

Here is my another bird opening. We were balanced until he do an unnecessary mistakes, lucky me.

1.f4 e5 is a complete answer to the Bird for anyone that answers 1.e4 with 1...e5.

What I find in the Bird's opening is that you are easy to pressure, very easy. I mean, a practical nuisance is after Nf3, Black answers with Bg4 and aggressively attacks the f4, or e-pawn (or pin it with Bc5 if on e3) when White castles Kingside. The problem I find with delaying castling though is that you've got to time it right, or else you're screwed against aggressive players.

However, although its hard to cope with early pressure, it's easy to cope later pressure once your opponent lets you castle kingside and consolidate before he puts pressure on you. In a way, that's the one thing I liked about the Bird - White is safe if he knows how to counter, and when someone decides to try to set it on fire, well...they're in for a good pecking if they do not do it strong enough. 

All SOUND openings are "safe" if you do know how to handle them.

Speak for yourself, I've had mediocre results with the FCG as Black. If 1.e4 e5 2.f4 I always accept, no more Falkbeer Counter Gambit's for me!

I fail to see the problem with the FCG. After all, after 2...d5 nobody prevents you answering 3.ed5 with 3...ef4.

It is just one of the many (too many?) ways Black is comfortable against the King's Gambit.