Horsefly Defense

The Horsefly Defense, 1...Nh6, is an offbeat reply to the Bird Opening associated with Martin Appleberry. The knight goes to h6 because White's c1-bishop, still shut in by the d2-pawn, cannot take it, and from there it can head for f5, g4 or f7. Against 2. b3 Black can answer 2...e5, a delayed From's Gambit, while 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 gives a Scandinavian with White's pawn on f4. The most common reply, 2. Nf3, sidesteps both ideas.