Detailed coverage of an underrated and dynamic choice for White
by Timothy Taylor, 224pp. (2005 Everyman)
Bird's Opening is an underrated and dynamic choice for White that immediately directs the game into relatively unexplored territory, setting Black players early problems and forcing them to think for themselves rather than having the luxury of relying on the theory of more mainstream openings. It's also a very flexible option that can lead to both sharp gambit play, such as the notorious From's Gambit, as well as quieter positional lines.
In this book International Master Timothy Taylor unearths the secrets of Bird's Opening and its many deviations. Using illustrative games, he examines tactical and positional ideas for both colours and recommends the best paths in both the 'main lines' and the lesser-trodden paths. A study of this book will give the reader the required knowledge and confidence to play the Bird's Opening with either colour.
Written by a Bird's Opening expert
A complete up-to-date survey on an active chess opening
Review On Dec 14, 2005 by Robert A. Karch of Tacoma, WA
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1. f4 If the Dutch Defense is a valid opening for Black, then the Bird is even better for White, making the same move with an extra tempo! IM Taylor goes on to prove his point in analysis of games and in many typical positions into the middlegame and the endgame. -- I found that this opening is actually quite often played: 22,994 games on my database: There is a wide range of Black replies, the most popular being 1...d5 (10,856), 1...Nf6 (3,466) and 1...e5 (3.430) -- which is the dangerous From's Gambit -- and many others. In the Introduction, IM Taylor gives seven deeply annotated GM games, illustrating what can go wrong and why, good and bad bishops, placement of the knights, and above all, pawn structure. Playing over the games with Taylor's insightful commentaries certainly increased my understanding of this opening.
...e5 The excitng Chapter that you have been waiting for -- THE FROM'S GAMBIT! IM Taylor, a lifelong Bird specialist, states that this gambit is highly complex, and it has not yet been refuted.
In Chapter One, The Classical Bird, 1...d5 2.Nf3 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Be2 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 c5 IM Taylor: White's main idea is to advance the e-pawn to e4. If White succeeds, the two pawns lined up at f4 and e4 dominate the center, facilitate kingside attacking chances and secure an advantage. 7. Nc3 d4 8. Ne4 $1 Nxe4 9. dxe4 White has achieved his objectove: pawns on e4 and f4.
1... b6 2. Nf3 Bb7 3.e3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. O-O Nf6 6. a4 The theme of this game. White plays for queenside pressure before embarking on a kingside attack. 6...c5 7. d3 Nc6 8. Na3 O-O 9. c3 d5 This is a well known Classical Dutch Defense position in reverse with a useful extra tempo.
1 f4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 g6 4. b4 Bg7 5. Bb2 O-O 6. Be2 The dangerous Bird/Orangutan, Larsen-Dely. This game is in the second major Chapter White's Queenside Fianchetto. 2.fxe5 (If you are not in the mood to meet the From, play 2. e4 and transpose into the King's Gambit! That will certainly test Black's knowledge of opening theory!) 2...d6 3. exd6 Bxd6 4. Nf3 g5 5. g3 g4 6. Nh4 Ne7 7. d4 Ng6 8. Nxg6 hxg6 9. Qd3 Nc6 10. c3 (Black's attacking strategy has been based on a series of one move threats, and for the prepared player, can be easily met.) 10...Qe7 11.Bg2 Bd7 12. Nd2 O-O-O 13. Ne4 Advantage White! -- There is an index of 53 complete games all copiously annotated, and an index of variations. Highly recommended for the Bird specialist and for those who want to learn the Bird.
Review On Feb 9, 2006 by Bob Beavan of Riverside, CA
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Highly recommend this book to players from beginner to expert level. Very comprehensive and understandable coverage of key concepts. Much of the material in this book does not appear to be available elsewhere.
Review On May 9, 2006 by Gerard of New York City, NY
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I found this book while browsing in a book store. I had no interest in playing this opening. I've faced it three times as Black, winning two and and drawing one. I've never thought very highly of Bird's Opening, however, the author's introductory comments caught my attention. If 1...f5 is a respected defense, why isn't 1 f4 a respected opening move? The author made a good case for the opening and is passionate about it, which always helps. I was also impressed that the author plays the opening himself and includes many of his own games. After buying it, I spent much of the next day fascinated by this book, which includes some sensational games. I highly recommend it, if only for entertainment value. The author points out the Lasker's famous double bishop sacrifice started with a Bird's Opening. He also points out that Lasker played the so-called Lasker Variation of From's Gambit only once, against Bird himself! Lasker gives some of the game in the opening section of his Manual of Chess, then goes on to say that he does not recommend sacrificing a pawn against 1 f4! Anyway, this is an amazing book that any chess book lover will enjoy.
Review On May 27, 2006 by Bill Conrad of Los Angeles, CA
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This is an excellent book, particularly for those uf us below master strength. While Tim Taylor and I are not close personal friends, but we know each other and both of us live in Southern California. I've seen him play The Bird many times in tournament, and he does quite well with it, so he certainly "puts his money where his mouth is." While he doesn't ALWAYS play 1.f4, he certainly plays it enough to be able to say "I play Bird's Opening" and have it mean something. The book itself is well laid out, the games are analyzed well and deeply, and the coverage is comprehensive. I considered playing the Bird, but ultimately I don't have time to learn a whole new opening. But I do have the book, and will trot it out once in a while. This book is HIGHLY recommended!
Review On Jun 1, 2006 by Jalas Aaro of Finland
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This a a good introduction and updating of the theory of Bird's Opening.
Some missing points:
1)The reversed London System 1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 Bf5 1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 Bf5 These setups are not handled at all. As an amateur, who plays regularly Bird's Openining, I have met often setups involving early Bf5; I think that these so-called London-systems should have gotten at least some attention.
2) The so-called Recipe variation 1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 Bg4 3.e3 Nd7 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3: Here Taylor mentions that if Black plays 5.-Nf6?!, then 6.g4! might well give White advantage, so according to Taylor Black should try wild gambitplay with 5.-e5!?. However there is good between-move for Black in 5.-c6!? securing the d5 and threatening 6.-e5, when White is practically forced to play Stonewall-setup with 6.d4. I think that Black can play then safely 6.-e6 and 7.-f5 before the development of King's Knight: this gives us Stonewall vs. Stonewall-positions, where only White has the bad bishop. As 5.-c6!? has been played several times and Taylor must know it, I wonder why this possibility was not mentioned.
3) From´s Gambit' Taylor makes good work showing that the main lines are OK for White. The revival of the line 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 Bxd6 4.Nf3 g5 5.d4 g4 6.Ne5 Bxe5 7.dxe5 Qxd1+ 8.Kxd1 Nc6 9.Nc3 is also interesting: it gives You a chance to avoid complications and play solid endgames with bishop pair advantage. However Black can make things more complicated with 6.-Qf6!?, which should have been handled here.
Anyway, I recommend this book for anyone who wants to start the game with 1.f4!
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