Henry Edward Bird (14 July 1829[1] – 11 April 1908) was an English chess player, author and accountant. He wrote the books Chess History and Reminiscences and An Analysis of Railways in the United Kingdom.
Although Bird was a practising accountant, not a professional chess player, it has been said that he "lived for chess, and would play anybody anywhere, any time, under any conditions."[2]
At age 21, Bird was invited to the first international tournament, London 1851. He also participated in tournaments held in Vienna and New York City. In 1858 he lost a match to Paul Morphy at age 28, yet he played high-level chess for another 50 years. In the New York tournament of 1876, Bird received the first brilliancy prize ever awarded, for his game against James Mason.[2]
In 1874 Bird proposed a new chess variant, which played on an 8×10 board and contained two new pieces: guard (combining the moves of the rook and knight) and equerry (combining the bishop and knight). Bird's chess inspired José Raúl Capablanca to create another chess variant, Capablanca Chess, which differs from Bird's chess only by the starting position.
It was Bird who popularised the chess opening now called Bird's Opening (1.f4), as well as Bird's Defence to the Ruy Lopez (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nd4). Bird's Opening is considered sound, though not the best try for an opening advantage. Bird's Defence is regarded as slightly inferior, but "trappy".
Bibliographyedit
Wikisource has original works by or about: Henry Bird
Bird, H. E. Chess Masterpieces (London: Dean, 1875)
Bird, H. E. The Chess Openings, Considered Critically and Practically (London: Dean, 1877; New York: Lockwood, 1880, 1886)
Bird, H. E. Chess Practice (London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, 1882; Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1892)
Bird, H. E. Chess History and Reminiscences (London: Dean, 1893)
Bird, H. E. Chess Novelties and Their Latest Developments (London, New York: F. Warne, 1895)
^A date of 1830 has been given, but baptismal records indicate 1829. Renette, Hans (2016). H.E. Bird: A Chess Biography with 1,198 Games. McFarland. p. 20.
^ abHarold C. Schoenberg, Grandmasters of Chess, W.W. Norton & Co., New York, Rev. Ed. 1981, p. 66.
henry, bird, chess, player, henry, edward, bird, july, 1829, april, 1908, english, chess, player, author, accountant, wrote, books, chess, history, reminiscences, analysis, railways, united, kingdom, henry, birdborn, 1829, july, 1829portsea, portsmouth, hampsh. Henry Edward Bird 14 July 1829 1 11 April 1908 was an English chess player author and accountant He wrote the books Chess History and Reminiscences and An Analysis of Railways in the United Kingdom Henry BirdBorn 1829 07 14 14 July 1829Portsea Portsmouth Hampshire EnglandDied11 April 1908 1908 04 11 aged 78 London EnglandNationalityBritishKnown forBird s openingAlthough Bird was a practising accountant not a professional chess player it has been said that he lived for chess and would play anybody anywhere any time under any conditions 2 Contents 1 Tournament play 2 Legacy 3 Bibliography 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksTournament play editAt age 21 Bird was invited to the first international tournament London 1851 He also participated in tournaments held in Vienna and New York City In 1858 he lost a match to Paul Morphy at age 28 yet he played high level chess for another 50 years In the New York tournament of 1876 Bird received the first brilliancy prize ever awarded for his game against James Mason 2 Legacy editThis section uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves In 1874 Bird proposed a new chess variant which played on an 8 10 board and contained two new pieces guard combining the moves of the rook and knight and equerry combining the bishop and knight Bird s chess inspired Jose Raul Capablanca to create another chess variant Capablanca Chess which differs from Bird s chess only by the starting position It was Bird who popularised the chess opening now called Bird s Opening 1 f4 as well as Bird s Defence to the Ruy Lopez 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 Nd4 Bird s Opening is considered sound though not the best try for an opening advantage Bird s Defence is regarded as slightly inferior but trappy Bibliography edit nbsp Wikisource has original works by or about Henry Bird Bird H E Chess Masterpieces London Dean 1875 Bird H E The Chess Openings Considered Critically and Practically London Dean 1877 New York Lockwood 1880 1886 Bird H E Chess Practice London Sampson Low Marston Searle amp Rivington 1882 Sampson Low Marston amp Company 1892 Bird H E Chess History and Reminiscences London Dean 1893 Bird H E Chess Novelties and Their Latest Developments London New York F Warne 1895 See also editBird s Defence Bird s OpeningNotes edit A date of 1830 has been given but baptismal records indicate 1829 Renette Hans 2016 H E Bird A Chess Biography with 1 198 Games McFarland p 20 a b Harold C Schoenberg Grandmasters of Chess W W Norton amp Co New York Rev Ed 1981 p 66 References editHooper David Whyld Kenneth 1992 The Oxford Companion to Chess second ed Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 280049 3 OCLC 34618196 Renette Hans 2016 H E Bird A Chess Biography first ed McFarland amp Company ISBN 978 0 7864 7578 0External links editgames at www chessgames com Henry Bird download 22 of his games in pgn format Henry Edward Bird Works by Henry Bird at Project Gutenberg Works by or about Henry Bird at Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Henry Bird chess player amp oldid 1203317754, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
