ECO A03 · Bird Opening

Bird Opening: Dutch Variation

1. f4 d5

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

2. Nf3−0.27

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Bird Opening: Dutch Variation (A03), reached after 1. f4 d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 2. Nf3 for White. The position is roughly equal (−0.27).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.272. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. Bb5+ Bd7 5. Bxd7+ Qxd7 6. d3 g6
  2. −0.272. e3 e6 3. b3 Nf6 4. Bb2 Be7 5. Be2 O-O 6. c4 c5
  3. −0.372. d4 Bf5 3. e3 e6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. c4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 c5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Bird Opening: Dutch Variation?
After 1. f4 d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2. Nf3 for White, continuing Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. Bb5+ Bd7 5. Bxd7+ Qxd7 6. d3 g6. The position is roughly equal (−0.27). The next best moves are 2. e3 (−0.27) and 2. d4 (−0.37).
Is the Bird Opening: Dutch Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.27: the position is roughly equal. 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: Dutch Variation?
A03. 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+).