Chess openings: Bird's Opening (A03)

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Bird's Opening (A03)
1 f4 d5

Number of games in database: 2584
Years covered: 1836 to 2025
Overall record:
   White wins 31.2%
   Black wins 42.3%
   Draws 26.5%

Popularity graph, by decade

Explore this opening | Search for sacrifices in this opening.

PRACTITIONERS

With the White Pieces

With the Black Pieces

Henry Bird		66 games
Gabriele Just		38 games
Savielly Tartakower		24 games

Gedeon Barcza		8 games
Pia Cramling		8 games
Amos Burn		8 games

NOTABLE GAMES [what is this?]

White Wins

Black Wins

Lasker vs J Bauer, 1889

Tarrasch vs Marotti / Napoli / de Simone / del, 1914

B Alterman vs Deep Fritz, 2000

Tylkowski vs A Wojciechowski, 1931

NN vs R Crepeaux, 1923

Smyslov vs G Ilivitsky, 1955

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page 1 of 104; games 1-25 of 2,584

Game		Result	Moves	Year	Event/Locale	Opening
1. Saint-Amant vs G Walker		1-0	36	1836	Casual game	A03 Bird's Opening
2. Staunton vs Bristol CC		1-0	39	1839	Correspondence game	A03 Bird's Opening
3. F Laigle vs Kieseritzky		0-1	16	1843	Double Blindfold Exhibition	A03 Bird's Opening
4. P Michaels vs F Laigle		0-1	41	1845	Laigle - Michaels	A03 Bird's Opening
5. P Michaels vs F Laigle		1-0	38	1845	Laigle - Michaels	A03 Bird's Opening
6. P Michaels vs F Laigle		1-0	34	1845	Laigle - Michaels	A03 Bird's Opening
7. E Lowe vs A Simons		1-0	33	1849	Ries' Divan Tournament	A03 Bird's Opening
8. E Lowe vs G Medley		1-0	59	1849	Ries' Divan Tournament	A03 Bird's Opening
9. E Lowe vs G Medley		½-½	63	1849	Ries' Divan Tournament	A03 Bird's Opening
10. E Williams vs E Flower		1-0	34	1849	Ries' Divan Tournament	A03 Bird's Opening
11. F Deacon vs E Lowe		1-0	32	1851	Deacon - Lowe	A03 Bird's Opening
12. E Williams vs Lowenthal		0-1	26	1851	Lowenthal - Williams	A03 Bird's Opening
13. The Hague vs Nijmegen		½-½	51	1851	corr	A03 Bird's Opening
14. H Kennedy vs M Wyvill		1-0	65	1851	London	A03 Bird's Opening
15. E Williams vs Staunton		1-0	46	1851	London	A03 Bird's Opening
16. Staunton vs E Williams		½-½	61	1851	Staunton - Williams	A03 Bird's Opening
17. E Williams vs Horwitz		½-½	78	1852	Williams - Horwitz	A03 Bird's Opening
18. Horwitz vs E Williams		0-1	24	1852	Williams - Horwitz	A03 Bird's Opening
19. E Williams vs Harrwitz		½-½	61	1852	Harrwitz - Williams	A03 Bird's Opening
20. E Williams vs Harrwitz		0-1	60	1852	Harrwitz - Williams	A03 Bird's Opening
21. G Schwabe vs de Riviere		0-1	22	1854	Casual game	A03 Bird's Opening
22. Hardy vs F Janssens		0-1	24	1854	Kling's Chess Rooms Tournament	A03 Bird's Opening
23. Stella vs Staunton		0-1	20	1855	Correspondence game	A03 Bird's Opening
24. Speyer vs C Knorre		0-1	35	1855	Mykolaiv	A03 Bird's Opening
25. Cochrane vs Saumchurn		0-1	28	1856	Casual game	A03 Bird's Opening


page 1 of 104; games 1-25 of 2,584

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Apr-10-23		Chesschronicle22: I'ma i'ma i'ma i'ma go . Just saying, loike

Apr-10-23		Chesschronicle22: The new <" HarryLime "> is in town :)

Apr-10-23		Chesschronicle22: Heres a classic, enjoy https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf-tj...

Apr-10-23		Chesschronicle22: Golden Wind OST - Giorno's Theme『il vento d'oro』 - https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=623JG...

Apr-10-23		Chesschronicle22: My name initial is N.G. G stands for Gabriel N stands for -confidential-

Apr-11-23		Chesschronicle22: http://www.google.com/url?q=https:/...

Apr-11-23		Chesschronicle22: This is a long amounts of the letter P PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP am I flooding the site?

Apr-11-23		Chesschronicle22: lokie, lol lol. Vtuber- Selen Tatsuki http://www.google.com/url?q=https:/...

Apr-11-23		whiteshark: I am curious if "Team Ding" (Nepomniachtchi - Ding World Championship Match (2023)/Ding Liren) is inspired for his next white game by Rapport vs A Tari, 2022

Apr-12-23		Chesschronicle22: I'll look into it, thanks. Maybe today I will have an answer

Apr-12-23		Chesschronicle22: The game was very sharp indeed, I play Bird's opening all the time and the Dutch Variation is very common in my games. But the probability for your assumtion is pretty low. < I am curious if "Team Ding" (Nepomniachtchi - Ding World Championship Match (2023)/Ding Liren ) is inspired for his nect game by Rapport vs A Tari, 2022> thats my answer. If you have any other question about thr Birds Opening, just let me know. I will be happy to answer, cheers Enjoy some flowers! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YudHc...

Aug-10-23		Chesschronicle22: I'm back!!!! I miss you personal forum :*

Aug-10-23		Chesschronicle22: "<<<<<< Gomu-Gomu No, Bazooka!!!!!!>>>>" http://www.google.com/url?q=https:/... Anime, UwU loike,,,,, :))))))))))))

Aug-10-23		Messiah: Ah, the Bird... Back in the days my trainer always taught us not to use it, so I went on and used it in a training match against a teammate, and I won. Good ol' days.

Aug-10-23		Chesschronicle22: <W> <e> ____ <A> <r> <e> !!!!! http://www.google.com/url?q=https:/... :)))))))))))))))))))))))))

Aug-10-23		Chesschronicle22: <Messiah: : Ah, the Bird... Back in the days my trainer always taught us not to use it, so I went on and used it in a training match against a teammate, and I won. Good ol' days.> XD lol. <Messiah> do you know what the Birds opening motives are?

Aug-10-23		Messiah: <Chesschronicle22: <Messiah: : Ah, the Bird... Back in the days my trainer always taught us not to use it, so I went on and used it in a training match against a teammate, and I won. Good ol' days.> XD lol. <Messiah> do you know what the Birds opening motives are?> Practically, an inverted Dutch. The main idea behind the Bird's Opening is to create a flexible pawn structure and to prepare for a kingside attack. However, it can transpose into other openings, such as the Dutch Defense (1...f5) or the Leningrad Variation of the Dutch Defense (1...f5 followed by 2...g6). The Bird's Opening can lead to interesting and unbalanced positions, catching opponents off guard who might be more familiar with the mainline openings. It's a choice for players who enjoy more unconventional and dynamic positions, but it may require a good understanding of the resulting pawn structures and piece activity for successful play. For example, an aggressive but rare response is 1...g5?!, the Hobbs Gambit, with play possibly continuing 2.fxg5 h6, a sort of mirror image Benko Gambit. White can simply return the pawn with 3.g6, leaving Black with a weakened kingside after 3...fxg6. A variant is the Hobbs–Zilbermints Gambit, 1...h6 intending 2...g5; against this, White could proceed with 2.e4 g5 3.d4, when Black has lost time and weakened their kingside. I copypasted this section from the Wikipedia just to urge you to familiarize yourself very well with unconventional and offbeat lines before playing the Bird in a serious game.

Aug-10-23		Chesschronicle22: 0-0 1. f4 e6 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bd3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Bc2 Nd5 7. d4 Bd6 8. O-O f5 9. a3 b5 10. Bd3 Ba6 11. Qe2 Rb8 12. b3 Qf6 13. Bb2 Rfe8 14. c4 bxc4 15. bxc4 Nxe3 16. d5 Qxb2 17. Qxb2 Rxb2 18. dxc6 Rxg2+ 19. Kh1 dxc6 20. Re1 Nc2 21. Qxb2 Rxb2 22. Rf2 Rxf2 23. Kxf2 exd5 24. b3 Qf6 25. Bb2 Qh6 26. c4 bxc4 27. bxc4 Nxe3 28. Ra2 Qh5 29. c4 bxc4 30. bxc4 Rb3 31. c5 Bxd3 32. Ne5 Qxe2 33. b4 Ra8 34. Bc1 Rab8 35. Rc2 Rfe8 36. c4 bxc4 37. Bxc4 Bxc4 38. Qxc4 a5 39. Bd2 axb4 40. b5 Na7 41. a4 c6 42. bxc6 Rxb1 43. cxd7 Rd8 44. Qc8 Nxc8 45. Rxc8 Rb8 46. Nc3 cxb5 47. Nxb5 Rec8 48. Qa2 Rxc2 49. Qxc2 Nxb5 50. axb5 Nc7 51. Bd2 Rxb5 52. Rb1 Rxb1+ 53. Qxb1 Nd5 54. Qb5 Qe8 55. Ne5 Bb4 56. Bxa5 Nxe3 57. Ne5 Qa8 58. Nxd7 Qxg2# 59. Kf2 Bb4 60. Bxb4 axb4 61. Ne5 Nf6 62. Kf3 Qh5+ 63. h3 Qe7 64. Qxb4 Qa8 65. Qe7 Ne4+ 66. Kf3 Nc3+ 67. Kf2 Qa2+ 68. Kg1 Qa1+ 69. h3 Qa2+ 70. Kg1 Qa1+ 71. Kh2 g6 72. Qe7 Nd5 73. Qe8+ Kg7 74. Qf7+ Kh6 75. Qxd7 Nxe3 76. Nf7+ Kh5 77. Ng5 Nf1+ 78. Kg1 Nd2+ 79. Kh2 Nf1+ 80. Kg1 Nd2+ 81. Kf2 Qf1+ 82. Ke3 Nc4# 83. Nf7+ Kh5 84. g4+ fxg4 85. hxg4+ Nxg4+ 86. Qb5+ Nd5 87. hxg4+ Kxg4 88. Qe2+ Kh4 89. Qf2+ Kg4 90. Qg3+ Kf5 91. Qg5+ Ke4 92. Qe5+ Kd3 93. Qg3+ Kf5 94. Ng5 Nxf4 95. Nd6+ Kf6 96. Qg5+ Kg7 97. Ne8+ Kf8 98. Nd6 Qxd4 99. Qd8+ Kg7 100. Qd7+ Kh6 101. Nf5+ exf5 102. Qxh7+ Kxh7 103. Qg5+ Kg7 104. Ne4 Qb2+ 105. Nd6+ Kf6 106. Qf2 Qc1 107. Ne8+ Ke7 108. Qf2 Qc1 109. Kg3 Qa3+ 110. Qf3 Qxd6 111. Qh4+ Kg7 112. Qe7+ Nxe7 113. Ne8+ Kf8 114. Qd8 Qxf4+ 115. Kg2 Ne3+ 116. Kh3 Qf1+ 117. Kg3 Qg1+ 118. Kf3 Qe3+ 119. Kg2 Nf4+ 120. Kg4 h5+ 121. Kg2 Nf4+ 122. Kh1 Qh3+ 123. Kf1 Qe2+ 0-1 Heres how you beat the Birds

Aug-10-23		Chesschronicle22: <Messiah: Practically, an inverted Dutch. The main idea behind the Bird's Opening is to create a flexible pawn structure and to prepare for a kingside attack. However, it can transpose into other openings, such as the Dutch Defense (1...f5) or the Leningrad Variation of the Dutch Defense (1...f5 followed by 2...g6). The Bird's Opening can lead to interesting and unbalanced positions, catching opponents off guard who might be more familiar with the mainline openings. It's a choice for players who enjoy more unconventional and dynamic positions, but it may require a good understanding of the resulting pawn structures and piece activity for successful play. For example, an aggressive but rare response is 1...g5?!, the Hobbs Gambit, with play possibly continuing 2.fxg5 h6, a sort of mirror image Benko Gambit. White can simply return the pawn with 3.g6, leaving Black with a weakened kingside after 3...fxg6. A variant is the Hobbs–Zilbermints Gambit, 1...h6 intending 2...g5; against this, White could proceed with 2.e4 g5 3.d4, when Black has lost time and weakened their kingside. I copypasted this section from the Wikipedia just to urge you to familiarize yourself very well with unconventional and offbeat lines before playing the Bird in a serious game.> that is a lot, I like playing the birds a while back, but now I play the London or the Vienna

Aug-10-23		Chesschronicle22: Most plyers dont know how to counter the bird, and most Bird players don't know how to play the birds. So its just chaos when someone plays birds with an elo under 1000 XD

Aug-10-23		Chesschronicle22: Do you play you play the birds nowdays <Messiah>?

Aug-10-23		Chesschronicle22: When I play the birds (puts on sunglasses) 1. f4 f5 2. e3 Nf6 3. d4 e6 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. Bd2+ a5 6. a3 Bxd2 7. Nbxd2+ Nc6 8. c4 d5 9. b3 h5 10. Bd3 Rf8 11. Rc1 Ra6 12. O-O b6 13. Qc2 Bb7 14. c5 Ra7 15. b4 axb4 16. axb4 Qe7 17. Rca1 Rxa1 18. Rxa1 bxc5 19. bxc5 Ng4 20. Nf1 Rf6 21. h3 Nh6 22. Bb5 Kf8 23. Bxc6 Bxc6 24. Qb3 Be8 25. Ra8 c6 26. Qb6 Nf7 27. Qxc6 Nd8 28. Qc8 e5 29. fxe5 Re6 30. Qxd8 Qxd8 31. Rxd8 g5 32. Nxg5 Rh6 33. Ng3 Ke7 34. Ra8 Bd7 35. Ra7 Ke8 36. Rxd7 Kxd7 37. Nxf5 Rc6 38. Kf2 Kc7 39. Kf3 Rg6 40. Nf7 Rc6 41. Ng7 h4 42. Nf5 Re6 43. Nxh4 Re7 44. Ng5 Kc6 45. Nf5 Re8 46. Kg4 Kc7 47. h4 Kc6 48. h5 Kc7 49. h6 Kc6 50. Kh5 Kc7 51. g4 Kc6 52. Ng7 Rd8 53. Nf3 Rd7 54. Nh4 Re7 55. g5 Kb5 56. Nhf5 Rd7 57. h7 Rd8 58. Nh6 Rh8 59. g6 Rc8 60. Nf7 Ka5 61. h8=Q Rxh8 62. Nxh8+ Kb5 63. Nf5 Ka6 64. g7 Kb7 65. g8=Q Kc6 66. Qe6 Kb5+ 67. Qxd5 Ka6 68. Nd6 Ka5 69. Qb3 Ka6 70. Qb5 Ka7+ 71. Qb7# 1-0

Aug-10-23		DepthVitalazy: I never played the Birds lol :V I play the queens gambit, nimzo-indian defense, and the English :)

Aug-10-23		Chesschronicle22: Hi <Vitalazy>, correction: U also play the Caro-kann. Also, hows Feronik doing?

Aug-10-23		DepthVitalazy: Right XD, I also play the Caro-kann Feronik is doing fine, thanks for asking :)

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