Bird: 1...d5 with 3.e3 is variation 1 of 6 in the Against the Bird, Larsen, Polish and Grob course, a intermediate opening course for Black (ECO A03). It runs 22 moves and begins 1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 g6 4. b3 Bg7 …. Black meets the Bird with ...d5, ...Nf6 and ...g6. The g7 bishop fights the b2 bishop, and Black gains space with ...c5 and ...Nc6. After the trades on e5 and g7 the game is level. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. f4 – The Bird Opening. White takes control of e5 with the f-pawn.
1... d5 – The solid answer. Black takes the centre and keeps the game calm.
2. Nf3 – White develops and adds a guard to e5.
2... Nf6 – Black develops and covers e4.
3. e3 – White opens the f1 bishop.
3... g6 – Black prepares the fianchetto. The bishop on g7 will fight the b2 bishop.
4. b3 – White prepares to put the bishop on b2.
4... Bg7 – The bishop takes the long diagonal.
5. Bb2 – The two bishops face each other on the long diagonal.
5... O-O – Black castles first. The king is safe.
6. Be2 – White develops and gets ready to castle.
6... c5 – Black gains space and gets ready to bring the knight to c6.
7. O-O – White castles.
7... Nc6 – Black develops the knight. Now Black is ready to push the d-pawn to d4.
8. Ne5 – The knight jumps to e5, the square the f-pawn controls.
8... Nxe5 – Black trades the strong knight at once.
The lesson goes on for 6 more moves, each with its explanation.
chessGM