Open 1.f4 challengers?

Titan, most openings have found a safe way to equality, among Super GMs, and even among GMs.

See the Slavian Meran variant.White has failed to prove an advantage during the last years.

At this time BOTH sides try to prove that their plan will dominate the middle game. See the remarkable meetings between Anand and Topalov.

Similar things can be said about the classical King's Indian.

From that point of view, since Bird does not need to prove  a white advantage, it is playable.

Yes, here my rating is not that high. But I take it with a grain of salt. My OTB rating with USCF is 1766 and my correspondence with them is much higher. But then again, I play other ppl here with low ratings like mine, and lose, I do go over them using analyisis. It sickens me to find out ppl with a 1300-1700 rated players and making grandmaster moves, in a rating of 3200...but I play my games fairly. I would guarentee if they played over the board, they would not be so fortunate. I actually played 1.f4 yesterday with an experienced player over the board, and won, 4 out of 4 games. But yeah, cheap tricks are like cheap comments.  And 1.f4 isn't a cheap opening. it is stable, so if there is any milwaukee players here, let me know and we can play in person and record the games. But, you know, that would probably never happen. even if they did live near by...

When I was a high C/low B player a few years ago I used to really like to play the Bird. These days I play 1.e4 but I need to find a black response vs the Bird to add to my repertoire. I would play a 7day/move game vs anyone here over 1700.

Haste, a nice interesting setup is 1...d6.

Titan, I mentioned g3, not a3.  I was interested in your discussion on early g3 lines. 

I'm not sure. I guess it's more popular these days because books were written on it. It avoids Bb4 stuff until Black puts a knight on c6. I don't mind though because I wanted to play the positions from the Karpov - Kasparov match in '79. You also get more active options in some positions by delaying g3.

Well, it comes down to preference.  I think g3 is more principled in the fight for d5.  I know this is a bit off subject....but then again, not at the same time.  It shows we have different outlooks on what is the "right" path in an opening as vast as the English.  So it is as well for the Bird.  There is a LOT to learn and understand about this opening.

5 minute live

Nice game. Although the black resistence was weak.

Btw, in the Stonewall setup it is almost always a very bad idea to play c4-c5 (respectively c5-c4).

I'll play you in the 1. f4 opening, veteranmate, if you're still open to that. Not in blitz or bullet though - I don't really like those. Standard or online is preferred.

I accept and sent a request

As promised. I had to do some searching to find this.  It was a very good game! I realized I should've sac'ed my knight to take out his Bishop, but I was already in a horrible postion. Very good game! I would like to know if you would want another in the same opening?

That d3-e3 pawn structure sucks for White.  You may wanna consider the d4 with early e4 aiming for Nxe4 Bd3, giving back the pawn with a reasonable position.  

Yes, we can play  From's gambit again. I want to understand it better.

Frankly, I am not sure whether or not it gives equality for Black.

But given the analysis i found on some databases, i also believe that the variants with Nf6 are better than those with g5.

Schlecter, that is the consensus of many players, but I still think Lasker's Variation has more sting than he gives it credit for.  I think even deep into the middlegame, if White is not careful, Black can pull him into a line.  But yes, ...Nf6 is the way to go.  If this tells you anything, I am a Bird's Opening player and I almost always play 1...e5 against it.  I think it is a very challenging reply.