Bird Opening · A03

Thomas Gambit

1. f4 d5 2. b3 Nf6 3. Bb2 d4 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3

White's queenside bishop takes the long diagonal.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. f4 Fights for e5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Bird Opening.
• 1... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen. Theory calls this the Dutch Variation.
• 2. b3 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via b2.
• 2... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4. It also props up the d5 pawn.

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