Bird: 1...d5 with 3.g3 is variation 2 of 6 in the Against the Bird, Larsen, Polish and Grob course, a intermediate opening course for Black (ECO A03). It runs 20 moves and begins 1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 …. White plays a reversed Leningrad set-up with g3 and d3. Black plays ...c5 and pushes the d-pawn to d4 to gain space. After the knight trade on e4 Black develops the bishop to f5. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. f4 – The Bird Opening.
1... d5 – Black takes the centre.
2. Nf3 – White develops.
2... Nf6 – Black develops.
3. g3 – White goes for a fianchetto. This set-up looks like a Leningrad Dutch with colours reversed.
3... g6 – Black does the same and puts the bishop on g7.
4. Bg2 – White's bishop takes the long diagonal.
4... Bg7 – Black's bishop does the same.
5. O-O – White castles.
5... O-O – Black castles.
6. d3 – White prepares to push the e-pawn to e4.
6... c5 – Black takes space on the queenside.
7. Nc3 – White develops and supports e4.
7... d4 – Black gains space and kicks the c3 knight.
8. Ne4 – The knight jumps forward.
8... Nxe4 – Black trades knights.
The lesson goes on for 4 more moves, each with its explanation.
chessGM