Lets take a moment to talk about Henry Bird

I dont know much about him and until today I thought the only thing he was know for was the Bird opening (1.f4). It's a solid enough opening and I play it when I'm bored or want to throw somebody off. Today I found out he has his own line as black in the Ruy Lopez opening(1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4). I cant tell if this line is good or just a novelty they named after him, but its very interesting this accountant from the 1800's has had his hand in at least 2 seemingly unorthodox openings.

If anyone could elaborate on this opening or share some historical insight about Henry Bird I'd be interested.

The idea is to leave white's light squared bishop hitting thin air on b5. Bird's defense has never really caught on. Probably because black moves his knight twice in the opening, just to see it exchanged.

Like Nimzowitsch taught us, "This is just like a farmer who has lost a piglet to disease and regrets not only the piglet, but all the good feed he has invested in it"

Here is a study where I copied what IM John Emms had to say about the Bird variation in his book, "easy guide to the Ruy Lopez". And his recommended line against it with 8. f4!



en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Bird_(chess_player)

"... but its very interesting this accountant from the 1800's has had his hand in at least 2 seemingly unorthodox openings. "

Meanwhile there's no Carlsen variation of some interesting line, or from any of the other modern players if that matters, who could smoke these 19th century Chess celebrities in their pipe. I think of this as a pretty bizarre happenstance. :]

@NeverBeenTimid Thanks for adding the study! I wont be playing that line as black any time soon. I wonder how often its played, it almost seems like the kind of thing people play just because it has a name or maybe they stumble upon it because they dont know opening principals.

I dont know what the guy who used the opening against me was thinking, he didnt say a word after the game, but it was strange for me to see an over 1800 player open that way and even worse the blunder that allowed me to checkmate.



@TheBigDecline I guess they had to much time in the 19th century and tried and named every move under the sun. Although It is strange that Carlsen or some other GM hasn't been named for some modern defense, and instead you see things like modern variation. Maybe in the future that will change.

well i had a quick look in my database quite a few big names played this opening ( unusual play to avoid theory may be)
i personnaly find this opening ugly as black but it seems it can be played ok if you know what you're doing and have good nerves.

Bird's opening 1 f4 is Dutch Defence reversed and thus sound. Carlsen has played Dutch several times.

#2 @NeverBeenTimid Bird's variation of the Ruy Lopez Spanish has been played a lot in correspondence chess and has occasionally been played by top grandmasters. At first sight one notes indeed that black plays his only piece in play a second time, which is unsound according to Nimzovich. However, black plays the knight into the centre, which is centralisation, much praised by the same Nimzovich. Some call this qualitative development. The same move is generally accepted in the Rubinstein Variation of the Four Knights Opening: 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nc6 4 Bb5 Nd4, the only difference is the insertion of the moves Nc3 and ...Nc6. Sure white can trade away black's only developed piece by taking 4 Nxd4, black recaptures 4...exd4 and white can play 5 O-O Now white has only 4 pieces on their starting squares and black still 7 so apparently white enjoys a major lead in development. However, black will kick Bb5 so that it will have to move 1-2 times, while black plays useful moves like ...d5. Also central pawn d4 is a thorn in white's position. White cannot play the natural Nc3 or the thematic c3 and d4. If Nb1 develops to d2, then it hinders development of Bc1. So black catches up in development.

Yeah it's a playable opening, but black has better tries imo. I've been trying to learn the Ruy Lopez and enjoy playing against the Bird as white.

@PierreGendarme any chance you could post some of those games? Preferably with some positive outcomes as black.

Or it would be really cool if anyone can find some games of Mr. Bird playing this opening himself. I know he has some books but I don't know if any of them have any of his games. I'm currently reading a book about the history of Capablanca and so far there has been no mention of Henry Bird. Maybe after i finish that (hopefully this year) Ill pick up one about Henry if I can find one in AN.

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?pid=10411&playercomp=black&eco=C61

24 games with Bird playing black in the Bird line of the Lopez.

to alking

here's one quite interesting game where i find black opening to be ok and it even makes you willing to play this
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1585161
look for bacrot against morozevich in biel 2004 ( moro wins in classical ) most impressive for the opening but really i'm not sure i would take black side after the opening.
look for short-ivanchuk linares 1989
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1383339
the players aren't so well known but the game is neverthless interesting
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1449939 evegeny romanov being defeated at the moscow open
just for beauty i must admit i didn't understood this game at all