Bird Opening: From's Gambit, Lipke Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code A02, part of the Bird Opening family. It goes 1. f4 e5 2. fxe5 d6 3. exd6 Bxd6 4. Nf3 Nh6 5. d4. White opens with 1. f4 (Bird's move) and Black answers 1... e5. After 9 moves it is Black to move. After the last move White is a pawn ahead in material. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.
The moves
1. f4 – White plays the pawn to f4
1... e5 – Black plays the pawn to e5
2. fxe5 – White captures on e5 with the f-pawn
2... d6 – Black plays the pawn to d6
3. exd6 – White captures on d6 with the e-pawn
3... Bxd6 – Black takes on d6 with the bishop
4. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
4... Nh6 – Black plays the knight to h6
5. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
About the Bird Opening
White starts with 1.f4, controlling e5. It is like a Dutch Defense with colours reversed and leads to kingside play.
White often plays Nf3, e3, b3 and Bb2 to control e5 strongly.
From's Gambit 1...e5 is a dangerous reply; know it before you play 1.f4.
The e1-h4 diagonal is weak, so watch for ...Qh4+ and ...Bg3 ideas.
chessGM