Bird Opening · A03
Williams Gambit, through 2. e4
1. f4 d5 2. e4
In the centre, White holds e4 while Black holds d5.
The first 3 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. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Williams Gambit: development and initiative over material.
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Where this fits
This line is one of 28 in the Bird Opening. If you want to know where your own games leave it, the guide on leaving theory explains how that is found.