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1f4d5After this, we can already see the respective plans of both sides. Indeed, the pawn d5 shows that the blacks will predominate in the center (with c5 or e5) while whites will initially establish a small center and then in some variants (including the Leningrad variant), take the center by e4 (played as soon as possible).2Nf3c53g3...This move enters in the Leningrad variant of the Bird. There are however more flexible move that allow the choice between several variants including the Leningrad variant, the Antoshin variant or the Classic variant. One of the advantages of the Bird is its great flexibility (except in variants such as Stonewall).3.d3g64.c3Nc65.Qc25.g3Leningrad VariationBg76.e4dxe47.dxe4Antoshin Variation3.e3g64.d3Classical Variation4.d4Stonewall Variation4.b3Queenside Fianchetto Variation (Extremely original name)3...Nc64Bg2g6We can also consider other options besides fianchetto:4...Nf6A very logical move5.d35...Bf56.Ne5!Nxe57.fxe5Ng48.O-Og69.Nc3d410.Bxb7Rb811.Bc6+Bd712.Bxd7+Qxd713.Ne4Nxe514.Nxc5Qd515.Nb35...e66.O-OBe77.a4O-O8.e3Rb89.Qe24...Bf55.d3e66.O-ONf67.c4!A move rare enough in the opening to be highlighted, but frequent enough that the idea should be remembered. It will be developed in later chapters.5O-O...It should be noted that the Leningrad variant of the Bird could be akin to some system, since the position will still be the same at the end of development. The diagram is somewhat busy, but it shows final position of the opening. (green -> pawns, blue -> minor pieces, yellow -> major pieces)5...Bg76d3...Whites as well as blacks have already started their preparations for the control of squares e5 and e4. However, preventing the push of the e pawn for one of the two camps is a possible task at the cost of large positional sacrifices. The plan of each camp will therefore only slow down the enemy's push or deal only with his own.6...Nf6Temporarily give up the e5 push to temporarily prevent whites from once again executing their plan.7c3...Limit the range of the Bishop g7. Possible too was the Helicoptere attack :7.c4(it's like Helicopter blades you see ^_^)d48.Na3O-O9.Rb1Re810.Bd2a511.Nb5e512.Nxe5Nxe513.fxe5Rxe514.Bf4Re715.Bd6Ng416.Bxc5Rd717.e4Ne318.Qf318...b619.Ba3Nxf1?20.Rxf1⩲with a very nice attack18...Nxf119.Rxf1Ra620.Bh3Rf621.Qg2Rxf1+22.Qxf1Qg523.Bb6Qe3+24.Kh1Rd825.Bxd8Bxh326.Qxh3Qe1+27.Kg2Qe2+28.Kg1Qe3+29.Kf1Qxd3+30.Kg1Qe3+31.Kf1Qc1+32.Kg2Qxb2+33.Kg1d3and Whites will must give the bishop or the Knight for the d3 pawn. It's a total equality.7.Nc3d4An attempt to refute7...O-O?!8.e4d49.Ne28.Na4b69.Ne5Nxe510.Bxa8Neg411.Bc6+Kf8⩱Whites have quality, but white pieces are very poorly placed and have few opportunities for pleasant development. The position is uncertain, but the Blacks are freer.8.Ne4!?Nxe49.dxe4O-O10.e5Qb611.c3!?Rd87...O-O8Na3...The idea is to then place the knight after e4 dxe4 on c4, b5 or c2. c4 is considered better though because b5 does not offer much of a future for the knight (and can only be played with the certainty that it cannot be removed or that it will be exchanged on the next move). c2 is a defensive square where the Knight is played regularly. Another possible move would be:8.Ne5!?(very rarely played)Qb69.Qb3Be610.Qxb6axb611.Nxc6bxc612.Nd2Ng413.Nf3d414.c48...Qc7Emphasizes the pressure on e5. Possible also is:8...Qb69.Qb3Qc710.Nb5Qd811.Na3Rb812.Nc29Qe1b610e4dxe410...Qd711.e5Ng412.Qe2h513.Ng5e614.h3Nh615.g4hxg416.hxg4With a nice position for whites.11dxe4...The game enters a key phase, in a position that happens quite frequently in the Leningrad games. Blacks can either play e5 or try to annoy Whites with Fa6.11...e511...Ba612.c4Rad813.e5Ng414.h3Nh615.g4(h3 and g4 are commons moves)f516.g5Nf717.Nb5Bxb518.cxb5Nb419.Qe2e620.Be320...Nd520...Nd321.Ne1Nb422.Nc2Nd323.b3h624.Rad1Nxf425.Bxf4hxg526.Bh212Nb5Qb812...Qe713.fxe5Ng414.Bg5Qb715.Nd6Qd7⩲12...Qb713.Nxe5Nxe514.Nd6Qd715.fxe5=13f5!...A thematic move after e5. The objective is not for now the attack of black castle because fxg6 leads nowhere. The move simply serves to block the center and to make the threat of an attack on the Black castle.13.fxe5Ng414.Bf4leaves an isolated pawn in e4.13...a613...gxf514.exf5is not possible because of the weakening of the Black King wing.14Na3b514...h615.Nc4a516.Ncxe5Nxe517.Nxe5Qxe518.Bf4Qe819.e5Nd520.Bxd5Bxf521.Bxa8Qxa815Bg5c416Rd1Ra717Nc2Rd718Rxd7Bxd7
This study will allow you to discover an Opening of chess game which will give you access to a rich and new game which will surprise your opponents.
The lines and analyses presented are for some taken from the book of the MI Timothy Taylor, but the vast majority are new due to the lack of research on this opening.

Updates appear first in the French version : lichess.org/study/u57gvekJ
Last update : 16/03/2025 (now same as the French version)

Bird's Opening : Complete Guide [EN]: Leningrad Bird : Theory406

Bird's Opening 1. f4bird lineComplete GuideBird's OpeningOuverture BirdGuide Complet1.f4birdOpening TheoryOpening Tricks and trapsOpening trapsguideTheory of OpeningsTheory
  1. Aurghnost I activated the chat, everybody can speak now :D
  2. Aurghnost Please tell me if there are any problems in the study.
  3. Wojtek7 interesting opening...
  4. LeMazz Amazing! Thanks for the insights
  5. GrgmlxD Thanks man, I have not seen a single tutorial related to this opening before
  6. GrgmlxD You helped me a lot :)
  7. zernox04 If you want to see 2 pretty dope bird games i have a study called my best games both in the bird and they're pretty instructive
  8. zernox04 on how great the opening can be!
  9. Aurghnost I will look this study
  10. Aurghnost Thanks for comments
  11. Nath33262 Thank you for the study!!!
  12. Nath33262 I love this opening, but I never truly studied the theory. You did an awesome job explaning the ideas!
  13. qwaxs man amazing!!! thank you so much dude. it is my favorite opening. how can I like or support this study?
  14. Aurghnost You can just like :)
  15. Aurghnost I do this because i love this opening, and everybody (almost) think it's not serious in tournament...
  16. Aurghnost And there is almost no books on the Bird
  17. ChessKid1406 where can I import this game?
  18. JB2003Bangwa7son Thank so much for the study what a amazing opening the birds
  19. Aurghnost The games played are picked in the only book i know on the Bird by the IM Timothy Taylor
  20. Aurghnost Except if i say something else in the chapter below the chessboard
  21. slionhearts Great study! Could you please also cover 1.f4 f5 2.e4 fe 3.d3, the reversed From?
  22. Nobz147 as someone who likes instant attacking i have grown fond of this opening and has undoubtedly become my signature
  23. Aurghnost It's really nice to have returns. I will for the reversed From.
  24. Aurghnost @slionhearts @Nobz147
  25. Aurghnost If i have time... (im currently studying in university, and i cannot play often to chess as you can see on my profile)
  26. jet_set_willy Nice work. But funny how all resources assume black knows to kingside fianchetto against the bird
  27. jet_set_willy In actual games <2200 g6 is pretty infrequent
  28. Aurghnost I agree. Most of the resources are from the book of Master Timothy Taylor.
  29. Aurghnost And all games he presents assumes that behaviour.
  30. Aurghnost @jet_set_willy In facts, even GMs i met in tournaments (who beat me easily) didn't play this.
  31. Aurghnost I think it was played a "long" time ago, but not so much anymore.
  32. Aurghnost I think it's played now for 30% of the games
  33. Aurghnost I will try to update this tutorial soon, i finished my studies :D
  34. Aurghnost The most completed study is the one in french
  35. Aurghnost lichess.org/study/u57gvekJ
  36. beerhunter66 Many thanks Aurghnost for an excellent study. I'm putting together a private study to help me to remember opening but I'm finding the study
  37. beerhunter66 ... difficult to use . Do you know if a comprehensive guide is available. For example ,how do you do a variation to a chapter? I've tried..
  38. beerhunter66 to right click the variation move, then 'force variation' but it doesn't work. Thank you
  39. beerhunter66 right click on the move to vary, then 'Force Variation'
  40. beerhunter66 Please ignore my last messages. I've now found some help with using Lichess Study
  41. Aurghnost Ok, if all is good for you it's nice :)
  42. Aurghnost I don't know how to make it more "user friendly"
  43. Aurghnost If you have ideas, just tell me
  44. Aurghnost I will update this study soon with the new content from the French version
  45. Aurghnost I now write the updated date in the study description.
  46. Aurghnost @beerhunter66 Sorry, im used to write the study on computer,
  47. Aurghnost I don't know how it works on other material
  48. Aurghnost Soon : completion of the From's Gambit part (adding all mestel, Bg4 and Kc6 variations)
  49. ShaharHarel Can't wait to study this, bird is goated
  50. Aurghnost I agree ;)
  51. TzHaarChess Thanks, first time ever learning this opening, this will be great to see what to put future study into :D
  52. ChessShenanigans2024 Thank you for your coverage - well done.