ECO A02 · Bird Opening

Bird Opening: Batavo-Polish Attack

1. f4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. b4

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

3… d6−0.44

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bird Opening: Batavo-Polish Attack (A02), reached after 1. f4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. b4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… d6 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.44).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.443… d6 4. Bb2 Bg7 5. e3 a5 6. b5 a4 7. Be2 O-O 8. Na3
  2. −0.433… a5 4. b5 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Bb2 d6 7. Be2 a4 8. Na3
  3. −0.413… Bg7 4. Bb2 d6 5. e3 O-O 6. Be2 a5 7. b5 a4 8. Na3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bird Opening: Batavo-Polish Attack?
After 1. f4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. b4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… d6 for Black, continuing 4. Bb2 Bg7 5. e3 a5 6. b5 a4 7. Be2 O-O 8. Na3. Black is slightly better (−0.44). The next best moves are 3… a5 (−0.43) and 3… Bg7 (−0.41).
Is the Bird Opening: Batavo-Polish Attack a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.44: 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: Batavo-Polish Attack?
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+).