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Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
Firepower from the flanks: Why 1.f4, the Bird's Opening, deserves your attention
EDITOR's NOTE: Chess 101 is a series on helping strengthen chess fundamentals with breakdowns from Shivika Rohilla, a Woman FIDE Master based in New Delhi, who is also the founder of the Shivika Rohilla Chess Academy (SRCA). The Bird's Opening (1.f4) is a fan favorite and frequently visited by speed chess players. Some may call it crazy or even solid at times because of its ease of application to the Stonewall Structure. The Bird's Opening resembles the Dutch variation (1.f5) from Black and is so regarded as the Reverse Dutch. The Bird's Opening is commonly ignored in mainstream opening theory, although it provides White with a creative and unconventional way forward. By immediately challenging possession of the e5 square, it facilitates dynamic, asymmetrical play. The Bird's Opening, named after 19th-century English master Henry Bird, appeals to players who want to engage in rich strategic engagements outside of standard e4 or d4. Players who use 1.f4 these days typically use the Polar Bear system with the f4, g3, d3, Nf3, Bg2 structure, which is played by Nihal Sarin, the rising Indian star; Magnus Carlsen, the current world number one; and Ian Nepomniachtchi, who has won the Candidates twice among many other players. However, it is not the only method to play this line; another structure, the Stonewall, with d4, e3, f4, provides a more sturdy play. Following is Carlsen's game in the Titled Tuesday in March 2025 against Le Tuan Minh after 1.f4 d5 g6 3.d3 Nf6 4.g3 Bg7 o-o 6.o-o c5 after which players may either opt for c3 or Nc3 offering a variety of positions. Apart from speed chess, Nodirbek Abdusattorov played 1.f4 in the Saint Louis rapid in 2024 against Fabiano Caruana, making a bold choice. He had opted for a pretty stable structure, and this was his position in 6 moves. Looking for an opening that's cool, quirky, and quietly dangerous? The Polar Bear System keeps your prep light and your position solid—because sometimes, the best way to win is to stay chill and play f4. Want to improve your chess basics? Or are you looking for an unconventional way to catch your opponent off-guard from the opening? Read all the articles from the Chess 101 series about chess openings here Shivika Rohilla is a Woman FIDE Master based in New Delhi. At just 17, she is the founder of the Shivika Rohilla Chess Academy (SRCA), which she runs alongside her mother, Dr. Nidhi Bhasin Rohilla, and national instructor Yogender Sharma. Passionate about both chess and education, Shivika recently passed Class XII with an impressive 95%, scoring a perfect 100 in English. She firmly believes that excellence in chess and academics can go hand in hand—and is living proof that it's possible to pursue both with dedication and discipline. Through SRCA, she is also working to promote chess among girls and young women. ... Read More
Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Opening with instinct: The wild logic of playing 1.b4, also called the Orangutan Opening
EDITOR's NOTE: Chess 101 is a series on helping strengthen chess fundamentals with breakdowns from Shivika Rohilla, a Woman FIDE Master based in New Delhi, who is also the founder of the Shivika Rohilla Chess Academy (SRCA). In a game where history meets razor-sharp preparation, few openings are more wonderfully odd than 1.b4 — the Orangutan, or Sokolsky Opening. This flank pawn push, born of humour and analytical curiosity, made its global debut in 1924 when Grandmaster Savielly Tartakower, fresh from a visit to the Bronx Zoo, claimed to have been inspired by an orangutan named Susan. While the narrative is entertaining, the maneuver itself is serious. 1. b4 has evolved into a versatile and creative weapon, avoiding deep theoretical lines while inviting rich, imbalanced positions. Despite its underdog status, world champions such as Magnus Carlsen have resorted to it, demonstrating that in chess, a lesser-traveled course can, however, lead to victory. Even though the line is mostly seen in faster forms of chess these days, such as bullet or blitz, it has also been played at the higher level by many super GMs, such as Fabiano Caruana and Carlsen, among others. Black's most popular replies are 1…e5 and 1…d5. Both leading to a very dynamic position. White's aim with this line is to get the opponent out of his usual preparation early on and invite him to a fierce battle of initiative and tactical play in the middlegame. The following position arises after 1.b4 e5. 2. Bb2 Bxb4 3. Bxe5 Nf6 4. c4, the move c4 is quite rare but interesting. Although a Titled Tuesday favourite, Fabiano Caruana's game with white against Kollars Dmitrij from the NC World Masters, Dortmund, Germany in 2023 is an exception being played during the classical format. A fascinating position arose after 16 moves starting with 1.b4 d5. From zoo-side inspiration to grandmaster execution, the Orangutan Opening walks a curious line. Part myth, part method, it's a tribute to chess's rich imagination. And a reminder that every move has a story — even 1.b4. You can read previous articles from the Chess 101 series about chess openings here
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Beyond 1.e4 and 1.d4: The case to play 1.b3 in modern chess
EDITOR's NOTE: Starting today, we present Chess 101, a series on helping strengthen chess fundamentals with breakdowns from Shivika Rohilla, a Woman FIDE Master based in New Delhi, who is also the founder of the Shivika Rohilla Chess Academy (SRCA). After the standard 1.e4 and 1.d4 openings, one of White's most respectable options is 1.b3, often known as the Nimzowitsch-Larsen opening. Dutch player Maarten van't Kruijs used 1.b3 in a serious game for the first time in history in 1851. Aron Nimzowitsch, a Latvian-Danish grandmaster, experimented with 1.b3 in the 1920s and 1930s, frequently transposing it into positions that resembled the Nimzo-Indian Defense. The opening gained popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s thanks to Danish grandmaster Bent Larsen. Between 1968 and 1972, he played it a lot, most notably at the Monte Carlo tournament in 1968. Even after suffering a crushing defeat against Boris Spassky in 1970, Larsen could use the opening in later matches successfully. In certain instances, even Robert James Fischer (Bobby Fischer) used 1.b3. Black's most popular reply these days is 1…e5, although 1..d5 is not bad as well. The following moves are usually seen on the board in 1.b3 — 1.b3 e5 Nc6 3.e3 Nf6 The hypermodern strategy, which allows for variable pawn structures and piece development by indirectly controlling the center, is reflected in the opening. Given its relative rarity, it can be used as a valuable surprise weapon to take opponents by surprise and move the game into an untapped region. In recent times, it has been used by Magnus Carslen, the reigning world number 1, Hikaru Nakamura, Arjun Erigaisi and Adhibhan Bhaskaran, among many more. One of the most popular games played in the variation is Aron Nimzowitsch vs Rudolf Spielmann (New York, 1927). This position arose after about 11 moves. White enjoyed a slight edge here and later went on to dominate the kingside and the game subsequently. Whether used as a primary weapon or a surprise strategy, the Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack remains a timeless choice for players seeking creativity, flexibility, and control from the very first move!
