First encounter with 1. f4

Hi everyone,

 I ended up winning quickly because of some serious errors by white, but couldn't shake the feeling I had missed opportunities. I had not played against Bird's Opening before, but always enjoy throwing up a gambit to start the game aggressively.

My analysis with Rybka 2.3.2a points to 4...Qh4+ is the preferred response (at an 11-depth). As it is, your move was solid. 8. h3? was a disaster for White. You closed that game well.

 Russ

1. f4 e5, 2. fe d6, 3. ed B:d6, 4. Nf3! is the best continuation in this opening called FROM'S GAMBIT.

Then black can play either 4.... Nf6 (here the opinions are different; definitely, there's still a lot to analyse), or 4.... g5, which is , for some reason, preferred by most black players.   

Then, in my opinion, the best reply is 5. g3 (5. d4 g4, 6. Ne5 B:e5, 7. de Q:d1+ , 8. K:d1 has also been played often, the endgame is [still] sharp, black has compensation for the pawn...) 5.... g4, 6. Nh4 Ne7, 7. d4 Ng6, and now either

8. N:g6 h:g6, 9. Bg2 Nc6, 10. c3 (White saw the threat 10... N:d4...), 

or

8. Ng2 h5, 9. e4,

and, in my opinion, white is better in both cases .

Those of you who don't like to give black a chance to take the initiative early, will simply play the KING'S GAMBIT:

1. f4 e5, 2. e4.

I am anxiously waiting that some of our heros of the attack,

(Morosevich, Topalov, Carlsen,...)

will incorporate  the King's gambit into his arsenal of weapons, so that it would be seen more often on highest level ...

Mandelshtam     

Hmm...you mate in 9 moves.

i guess you missed 8 opportunities, then. but most of those would have had to involve a revolver, cosh, or explosive device.

If you want experiance playing the birds I'll show you how to play it. My rating's down because I timed out on some one day per move games. 

After Bxd6, e4 is a horrible idea for White.  That is why his rating is 986.  But of course, you can't play the Bird unless you understand the "weakness" you create with 1. f4.  After e4, then Qh4+!

Now rmbjspd, here is the standard idea in the From's that White is obliged to play.  You might ask, why would White want to have to defend?  Look at the pawns...White has two center pawns (d and e pawn), while Black has none - the endgame chances are all White's.  Here is White's idea, which is totally sufficient.

Here is Black's normal response with ...g5 in the From's.  Note - there are other ideas - this is just a main line.

Now, here is a "normal" From's Gambit line a la Larsen...

I guess, if two strong programs are playing against each other (e.g. Rybka and Fritz)

the From's Gambit, then white will win.

Let's forget about "general (human!) considerations", such as "strong white pawn centre",  "desperate black pawn attack g7-g5-g4", etc., and let's leave the solution of the problem (which is EXTREMELY concrete!) to the computers...   

Why nobody organizes a thematic tournament for computers? This could give new insights into many openings!

I strongly believe, Kasparov "found" a lot of his "weird, unhuman" novelties, "with a little help of my friends " (= the computers who played against him and EACH OTHER, in his devilish cabinet...) 

Here is my favorite candidate :

1.e4 c5, 2. Nf3 d6, 3.d4 cd, 4. N:d4 Nf6, 5. Nc3 a6, 6. Be3 Ng4!?, 7. Bg5 h6, 8. Bh4 g5!?, 9. Bg3 Bg7 , with double-edged position.

Mandelshtam   

Yes, you are right, Qd3 is necessary (not Bg2, as I wrote in my first letter, which is bad in view of R:h2!).

I confused the moves.

The variant that you mentioned, leaves white with an advantage.

But  my mistake is just an example on how difficult  this opening is!

Mandelshtam

And you (as black) can tray this (I won 1-2 games in blitz this way, once upon a time...):

just to be clear [as BirdBrain has given 4 lines], NM tonydal is referring to:

1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 Bxd6 4.e4??

4...Qh4+ 5.g3 Bxg3+ 6.hxg3 Qxg3+ 7.Ke2 Bg4+ 8.Nf3 Qxf3+ 9.Ke1 Qg3#

(so 5. Ke2 - loses badly of course, but avoids the mate-in-5.)

the main reason why from's gambit is not so well-known, and even not anlysed enough is, that white can avoid it, and play 1. f4 e5, 2. e4 , King's gambit.

Mandelshtam 

Thanks tonydal...I was at work when I investigated the line, and I knew I was missing something, but couldn't quite see it.  I saw the idea of Bg4, but did not properly exhaust it.  I really appreciate the feedback, especially being in a constructive format. This line will look like this, for those of you who appreciate the visual stimulus.

That is a cute threat that would work ONCE :-) against anyone who might play 1. f4, and if White is paying any attention at all, he won't play Nf3 after dxc7 Qxc7.

Now, as I promised yesterday, the From's line with the double edged Ng4!?