MNb wrote on 10/03/08 at 15:37:13:


Yes, but those that play the Bird are perhaps not so aggressive as they are eccentric?  Just a theory, of course ......  Off hand, I do not know anyone that plays both Bird's Opening as White and Dutch as Black!  (not that they do not exist, just that they do not exist in my limited circle) 

Also, I do not believe that most of my opponents are the same playing strength as you.  In these US Swiss Open Tournaments one often plays some "softer" opponents in the first several rounds.  (meaning there are a lot of 2400 vs 2000 types of match-ups.)  I have never had opponent over 2200 use Bird's Opening against me and the only time I played T Taylor I had white and he did not play the Dutch vs my d4....I think he Benko'd me instead, but it was over 15 years ago so I don't remember all that well, actually....

MNb wrote on 10/03/08 at 01:05:52:



True, but 2.e4 is very double edged, and usually not the type of positions Birders are hunting for.  Especially the reverse, pass the dutchie-on-the-right-hand-side types.

2. ....fxe4 and the game is on!

I've only punted f5 twice and both times my opponents burned much time and did not play 2.e4 (which I think is the most logical move.)

I have found 1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 Bf5 to be a quite promising line for Black, and one that White is usually ill prepared for.  The Knight goes to c6, the Queen to d7 and rapid Queenside castling gives Black very aggressive play against the weakened White Kingside.

Also, I never see any love for 1. ....f5 !?, an underrated blockading move that takes away a lot of White's main plans....

(1) 2 …g6 3 e3 Bg7 4 Be2 Nf6 5 0-0 0-0 6 d3 c5
Here I play 7.Cc3. I wrote a technical note (sorry, it's in french) about this move here :
http://ouverturebird.free.fr/fichetechnique11.php

(2) 2 …Nf6 3 e3 Bg4 4 h3

I disagree with linksspringer here. Maybe I am wrong but I think Danielsen never played 4.h3 because on 2...Nf6 he plays 3.g3.
And I don't know why but there seems to be a big difference between playing 1.f4 d5  2.Nf3 Bg4  3.e3 Nd7  4.h3 (Danielsen variation), and 1.f4 d5  2.Nf3 Nf6  3.e3 Bg4  4.h3. In the first case I always had a good game after h3 and in the second case ... well ... too many losses.

(3) 2 …g6 3 e3 Bg7 4 Be2 Nh6!?

I played this variation once with white against a 2150 and I didn't have any real problem after 5.0-0 0-0  6.d3 c5  7.e4!? Nc6  8.c3 d4  9.h3!? f5  10.e5. But against a stronger player it would certainly be more difficult.

(4) 2 …Nf6 3 e3 c5   (5) 2 …Nf6 3 e3 e6!?

Sure that's a problem. Here I play 4.b3, Bb2 waiting for ...Nc6 from Black before moving the Bf1. But if Black play 4...g6 it may lead to an equal variation. But fully playable. 
In case (4) I played once 4.b4?! but i think it's a rather bad move.

Brilliant! Thank you! Got it and bookmarked it. 

@ linksspringer

Thanks for this. I actually had the site marked but haven't looked at it yet! I think having something strong worked out against the From is essential for a Bird player's confidence!


@ MNb

Thank you. I hadn't made the leap of realising Thomas's site could have something on this. But alas! -- when I visit it I cannot see a 'Just a Rush' link. In fact, most of the page is covered with a grey section containing links to the KG and anti-French books and a blog. I seem to recall someone else commenting on this a while back and I don't know what the answer is (buy the KG book, probably!).

Regarding the From 1 f4 e5 2 fxe5 Nc6 3 Nf3 g5 I believe 4 h3! keeps a White advantage... ever since I lost as Black in this line

Chesspub member le_gars has an excellent page here:
http://ouverturebird.free.fr/fichetechnique2.php