Bird Opening: Thomas Gambit is a chess opening with the ECO code A03, part of the Bird Opening family. It goes 1. f4 d5 2. b3 Nf6 3. Bb2 d4 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3. White opens with 1. f4 (Bird's move) and Black answers 1... d5. After 9 moves it is Black 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... d5 – Black plays the pawn to d5
2. b3 – White plays the pawn to b3
2... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6
3. Bb2 – White plays the bishop to b2
3... d4 – Black plays the pawn to d4
4. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
4... c5 – Black plays the pawn to c5
5. e3 – White plays the pawn to e3
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