ECO A02 · Bird Opening

Bird Opening

1. f4

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

1… d5−0.37

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bird Opening (A02), reached after 1. f4, Stockfish 18 recommends 1… d5 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.37).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.371… d5 2. e3 c5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. d4 Nc6 5. c3 cxd4 6. exd4
  2. −0.341… Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Nf3 d5 5. Be2 Bd6 6. d3
  3. −0.181… e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 d4 4. Nce2 c5 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. d3

All Bird Opening variations (26)

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bird Opening?
After 1. f4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 1… d5 for Black, continuing 2. e3 c5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. d4 Nc6 5. c3 cxd4 6. exd4. Black is slightly better (−0.37). The next best moves are 1… Nf6 (−0.34) and 1… e6 (−0.18).
Is the Bird Opening a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.37: black is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Bird Opening?
A02. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).