Flank · a plan for White
Bird Opening: Horsefly Defense
2/2
1.f4Nh6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Bird Opening: Horsefly Defense33k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
62%21k47%
18%6.1k46%
6.1%2.0k45%
5.8%1.9k49%
2.2%75148%
2%67746%
1.4%48247%
0.6%20339%
0.4%14938%
0.3%10755%
Famous games in this line41 master games
Vachier Lagrave, M.. (2758) – Kovalev, Vl (2648)Vachier Lagrave, M. (2793) – Sebenik, M. (2551)Skoberne, J. (2553) – Sadorra, J. (2539)Bernadskiy, V. (2617) – Garcia Ramos, Daniel (2439)Lodici, Lorenzo (2553) – Macovei, Andrei (2478)Bulanov, D. (2363) – Kovalev, Vl (2598)Peng, Li Min (2557) – Fischer, Daniel (2352)Nijboer, F. (2545) – Van Foreest, Lucas (2350)Heroes of this opening Kovalev, Vl · Skoberne, J. · Lodici, Lorenzo · Peng, Li Min
- Family
- Bird Opening
- Category
- Flank
- First move
- Other
- ECO
- A02
- Line
- 1. f4 Nh6
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From the archives
Henry Edward Bird, a London accountant, returned to chess in the 1870s after six years away: 'Having forgotten familiar openings, I commenced adopting KBP for first move.' He never stopped, and in 1895 wrote that no opening had given him more enjoyable games. It's the Dutch Defense with an extra tempo — kingside ambition from move one, named for the one player stubborn enough to make it a lifestyle.
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