Myers Defense

The Myers Defense, 1...b5, is an offbeat reply to the Bird Opening. Black pushes the b-pawn two squares, usually with ...Bb7 in mind to bear down the long diagonal, but the advanced pawn can turn into a target. 2. e4 opens the f1-a6 diagonal toward it, and 2. a4 strikes at it at once. The quiet 2. Nf3 is the most frequent answer. Lichess results are nearly even, and the engine rates the position as roughly balanced.