Bird Opening: Dutch Variation

The Dutch Variation of the Bird Opening (1.f4 d5) is Black's most common reply to 1.f4. With White's f-pawn on f4 and Black's d-pawn on d5, the game can take on the character of a Dutch Defense with colours reversed and an extra move for White.

The idea

White has several set-ups, each borrowed from a Dutch system:

• a kingside fianchetto with Nf3, g3, Bg2 and O-O, a reversed Leningrad Dutch;
• a Stonewall formation with pawns on d4, e3 and f4, aiming for a kingside attack;
• a queenside fianchetto to strengthen White's hold on e5;
• by analogy with the Ilyin-Zhenevsky Dutch, Nf3, e3, Be2, O-O and d3, preparing the break e3–e4.

Timothy Taylor's book on the Bird suggests as a main line 1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 g6 3.e3 Bg7 4.Be2 Nf6 5.O-O O-O 6.d3 c5.

Main lines

• 2.Nf3, as in Taylor's main line, keeping several of the set-ups above available.
• 2.c4, the Mujannah–Sturm Gambit, borrowing ideas from the Réti Opening and the Queen's Gambit Accepted. Black's best reply is 2...d4, continuing in Réti style. It is not a true gambit: if Black tries to hold the pawn with 2...dxc4 3.e3 b5?, then 4.a4 c6? 5.axb5 cxb5 6.Qf3 wins a piece.
• 2.g4, the rare Dudweiler Gambit.

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

• White plays a Dutch Defense a tempo up, with a choice of familiar structures.
• Good control of the e5-square.

Weaknesses

• Moving the f-pawn loosens White's kingside, as Black's sharpest reply to 1.f4, From's Gambit (1...e5), tries to show.

Who should play it

The Bird with 1...d5 suits White players who know the Dutch Defense from the Black side and want to use the same plans with an extra move.

The numbers

On Lichess Black does better under 1400 (50.2% against 45.5%), while White leads at 1400–1799 (50.1% against 46.0%) and 1800–2199 (49.8% against 45.1%); from 2200 up the results are level, 46.6% against 46.3%. In about 3,600 master games Black won more often than White, 33.4% against 25.4%, with 41.2% drawn.