Bird Opening: Hobbs Gambit

Bird Opening: Hobbs Gambit is a chess opening with the ECO code A02, part of the Bird Opening family. It goes 1. f4 g5. White opens with 1. f4 (Bird's move) and Black answers 1... g5. After 2 moves it is White to move. 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... g5 – Black plays the pawn to g5

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.

Related openings

• It extends: Bird Opening (1. f4)
• Related line: Bird Opening: From's Gambit, Lipke Variation (1. f4 e5 2. fxe5 d6 3. exd6 Bxd6 4. Nf3 Nh6 5. d4)
• Related line: Bird Opening: Hobbs-Zilbermints Gambit (1. f4 h6 2. Nf3 g5)
• Related line: Bird Opening: From's Gambit, Lasker Variation (1. f4 e5 2. fxe5 d6 3. exd6 Bxd6 4. Nf3 g5)
• Related line: Bird Opening: Horsefly Defense (1. f4 Nh6)
• Related line: Bird Opening: From's Gambit, Langheld Gambit (1. f4 e5 2. fxe5 d6 3. exd6 Nf6)
• Related line: Bird Opening: Lasker Gambit (1. f4 e5 2. fxe5 f6)

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