Personally, after returning to chess in the last year after 20-ish of chess inactivity, I am still searching for openings that I feel comfortable with ( and enjoy ! ).

As Black I seem to have found a niche with the Pirc as it offers variety according to the White response ( and I have a couple of excellent books and a DVD to assist me ). I also fell in love with the Dutch on those occasions where I meet 1.d4 or 1.c4 ( or 1.Nf3 ! ). Flexible, is the word.

As White I still struggle, having tried and rejected the Spanish ( too complicated and theoretical ), toyed extensively with the Bishop’s and found it enjoyable, but still not perfect ( though I admit, I enjoy the fact that it avoids the Spanish and sometimes surprises ). I still use it, but have now looked at the Bird ( so will enjoy your game, though I see it is a ‘Lenigrad Bird’ rather than the ‘Classical’ that I play ) where I can possibly re-use my Dutch knowledge.

I have an inclination to try the English as well, and will at some time when I feel improved enough as a player, actually open 1.d4 and feel that I am a real chess player !

One thing that is good about the Bird is that the middle-game positions are interesting. I feel I am extending mt ‘chess feeling’ when playing them, whereas sometimes 1.e4 e5 can feel ‘played out’or over tactical.

Subjective, but its a hobby !

I have found that at ICC (~1400) I can play pretty much any opening and do fine, or at least not lose because of the opening.

The pathology is when people switch around, looking for a magic bullet, not realizing it is their middle and end game skills that are killing their game. I can’t remember where, but someone called it ’switchers syndrome.’ I definitely had it once.