Chess notes: Bird's and Alekhine's Defense
Bird's
From Bird's Opening by Timothy Taylor. Everyman Chess. 2005.
The Classical Bird
Basic setup: 1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Be2 Nf6 5. 0-0 0-0 6. d3 c5.
White's main idea: To advance the e-pawn to e4. Then the two pawns lined up on e4 and f4 dominate the center, facilitate kingside attacking chances and secure an advantage.
Black can counter by in some positions by advancing the d-pawn to d4, when White's e-pawn is unable to slip by. Black can also also play e7-e5.
According to Taylor, 7. Nc3 to reinforce e3-34 looks promising; he cannot recommend the popular 7. Qe1, because it is too early to commit the queen. Black is able to equalize easily.
John Redmond (2210) vs Sabrina Chevannes (2074). 4NCL 2007-8 2008. Bird Opening: Classical Bird (A02). 1-0. http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1500887. This follows Taylor's Game 8 7…d4 note b closely. Sabrina doesn't take Taylor's advice, though, and plays 9…bxc6, doubling her pawns and giving the advantage to John with 10. e4.
White's Queenside Fianchetto
Avoid this line: "There are only two ways White can get an edge, and both require cooperation from Black."
Alekhine's Defense
From Starting Out: Alekhine's Defence by John Cox. Everyman Chess. 2004
Main Line (Classical and Modern variations)
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3
With 4. Nf3, White neither commits to maintaining the pawn on e5 (4. c4 Nb6 5. f4) or to its exchange (4. c4) and waits to see how Black plays.
Main Line Modern variation
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 dxe5 5. Nxe5
Main Line Modern variation Kengis system
1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 dxe5 5. Nxe5 g6
If White plays 6. Bc4, the Kengis is non-theoretical and simple; the difficulty is learning to play the resulting positions well. Black is solid, but what are the positive ideas?
Black should try to exchange a minor piece: if possible a knight for the one on e5 or the light-squared bishop for the one on b3, but bishop for knight will do.
Trap: After 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 dxe5 5. Nxe5 g6 6. Bc4, Black cannot play 6…Bg7?? or 7. Nxf7 Kxf7 8. Qf3+
Related tags: birds, alekhines-defense