Bird's Opening: Dutch Lasker Variation
Bird’s Opening
Definition
Bird’s Opening is defined by the very first move 1. f4 from White. By advancing the f-pawn two squares, White immediately stakes a claim to the e5-square, prepares to develop the king’s bishop to the long diagonal (b1–h7), and fashions a reversed version of the Dutch Defence (which normally arises after 1.d4 f5 with Black on move one). The ECO codes A02 and A03 cover the main variations.
Typical Move Orders
- From’s Gambit: 1.f4 e5 – Black sacrifices a pawn for rapid development and attack.
- Dutch Variation: 1.f4 d5 – Black mirrors White’s flank pawn thrust, leading to positions that feel Dutch-like but with colors reversed.
- Lasker Variation (within the Dutch line): 1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 – Emanuel Lasker’s solid answer, reinforcing the center with e3 while keeping options open for b2–b3 and Bb2.
Strategic Ideas
Because the f-pawn is moved early, the kingside dark squares—especially e3, e2, g3—can become sensitive. White generally tries to:
- Control e5 to restrict Black’s pieces.
- Develop quickly (Nf3, e3, Bb2, Be2, 0-0) and launch a kingside initiative with moves like Ne5, Qe1–h4, and sometimes f4–f5.
- Avoid falling behind in development versus gambits such as From’s Gambit.
Historical Background
The opening is named after the 19th-century English master Henry Edward Bird, who championed 1.f4 at a time when 1.e4 and 1.d4 were considered almost obligatory. Bird played it in hundreds of tournament and casual games, showing its soundness at a competitive level.
Illustrative Mini-Game
In this Lasker line, White calmly completes development and plans f4–f5, while Black chips away at the center with …c5 and …Nc6.
Interesting Facts
- A number of modern grandmasters (e.g., Bent Larsen, Michael Basman, and Magnus Carlsen on occasion) have used 1.f4 as a surprise weapon.
- Because the opening often transposes into Dutch structures, players who know the Dutch with Black can recycle many of their strategic ideas—with an extra tempo—when they adopt Bird’s Opening with White.
- Emanuel Lasker reputedly used the solid 3.e3 continuation in off-hand games to avoid theory and quickly reach a playable middlegame.
Dutch Defence
Definition
The Dutch Defence arises after 1.d4 f5, when Black advances the f-pawn to exert immediate influence over e4 and create unbalanced, fighting positions. The opening splits mainly into three broad systems: the Classical (…e6 and …d6), the Stonewall (…d5, …e6, …f5, …c6), and the Leningrad (…f5, …g6, …Bg7, …d6).
Key Plans and Structures
- Control of e4: Black’s early f-pawn discourages White from playing e4 in one go.
- King Safety: Because the f-pawn is missing from its original square, the Black king often castles kingside quickly and relies on piece play to compensate for the loosened dark squares.
- Minority Attack Possibilities: In many Stonewall structures, White can attack the queenside with c2–c4 and b2–b4.
Historical Significance
The defence is named after 18th-century Dutch players who used the setup in correspondence play. It was refined by Alekhine, Botvinnik, and later by modern specialists such as Nigel Short, Vladimir Malakhov, and Hikaru Nakamura.
Famous Example
Short vs. Kasparov, Tilburg 1991, saw the World Champion unleash a dynamic Leningrad Dutch to outplay Short in a wild middlegame.
Relationship to Bird’s Opening
If White starts with 1.f4 and Black replies symmetrically with 1…f5, the game transposes into a Dutch Defence with colors reversed. Conversely, 1.f4 d5 is officially called the Dutch Variation of Bird’s Opening because the resulting pawn structure resembles a Dutch Defence reversed.
Interesting Anecdotes
- The Stonewall Dutch became popular in the Soviet Union after Botvinnik–Capablanca, AVRO 1938, where Botvinnik used the structure (with colours reversed) to grind down the former world champion.
- The Leningrad Dutch is one of the few mainline openings where Black often castles on the same side where the f-pawn has advanced, choosing activity over structure.
Lasker Variation
Definition
“Lasker Variation” is a label that crops up in several openings, all linked to former World Champion Emanuel Lasker’s practical style. The most celebrated occurrence is in the Queen’s Gambit Declined, but a small, distinct Lasker Variation also exists in Bird’s Opening.
I. Queen’s Gambit Declined – Lasker Defence / Lasker Variation
Move order: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 h6 6.Bh4 O-O 7.Nf3 b6.
Lasker’s idea is to break the pin on f6 early with …Be7, challenge the bishop with …h6, and aim for the freeing pawn break …c5 under optimal circumstances. The line reached peak popularity after Capablanca–Lasker, World Championship 1914 (played in 1921 because of WW-I), where Lasker obtained an easy draw with Black.
II. Bird’s Opening – Dutch Variation, Lasker Sub-Variation
Move order: 1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3.
Here Lasker’s name is attached to White’s solid third move. By supporting both d4 and f4 and leaving the light-squared bishop free to develop, White keeps the position flexible and discourages Black from immediate …e5 breaks.
Strategic Significance
- Simplicity: In both cases, Lasker’s choice leads to less theory-heavy positions, consistent with his philosophy of “playing the man, not the board.”
- Piece Activity over Pawn Structure: Lasker was willing to accept potential structural concessions (e.g., a slightly passive light-squared bishop in the QGD) in return for piece harmony and practical chances.
Memorable Games
- Capablanca – Lasker, World Championship 1921, Game 14: One of the earliest demonstrations of the QGD Lasker Defence holding comfortably.
- Evans – Nakamura, St. Louis Rapid 2018: A modern grandmaster example of the Bird’s Lasker line, where Nakamura equalised swiftly with 3…g6.
Fun Facts
- Lasker famously remarked that he adopted “slightly inferior, but unfamiliar positions” to shift opponents out of their comfort zones—precisely what these variations achieve.
- Because the Lasker Variation in the Queen’s Gambit Declined leads to massive piece exchanges, it is a favourite drawing weapon at elite level when Black needs half a point.