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A02 · Flank · a plan for White

Bird Opening

From the archives

Henry Edward Bird, a London accountant, opened 1.f4 for half a century and finished near the top of some of the strongest tournaments of the 1870s with it. It's the Dutch Defense with an extra tempo — kingside ambition from move one, named for the rare player stubborn enough to make it a lifestyle.

1/1
1.f4
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Bird Opening26.9M games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
c511%3.0M48%
e69.9%2.7M46%
Nf66.6%1.8M49%
d64.6%1.2M49%
Nc64.4%1.2M46%
c64.4%1.2M48%
g64.2%1.1M50%
b63%810k47%
Category
Flank
First move
Other
ECO
A02
Line
1. f4
Explore all 28 Bird Opening lines