Dutch Defense

Dutch Defense is a chess opening with the ECO code A80. It goes 1. d4 f5. White opens with 1. d4 (the queen's pawn) and Black answers 1... f5. After 2 moves it is White to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
• 1... f5 – Black plays the pawn to f5

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 2. g3, 2. c4, 2. Nf3, 2. Bg5, 2. Bf4.

About the Dutch Defense

Black answers 1.d4 with 1...f5, grabbing the e4 square. It is ambitious and aims for a kingside attack, but it weakens Black's king a little.

• Black controls e4 with ...f5, ...Nf6 and sometimes ...d5 (Stonewall).
• A common attacking plan is ...Qe8 to h5 with pieces moving to the kingside.
• Beware the e8-h5 diagonal; early Qh5+ or Bg5 tricks can hurt.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the Dutch Defense course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: Queen's Pawn Game (1. d4)
• Continues with: Dutch Defense: Alapin Variation – adds 2. Qd3
• Continues with: Dutch Defense: Barcza Variation – adds 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c3
• Continues with: Dutch Defense: Hopton Attack – adds 2. Bg5
• Continues with: Dutch Defense: Korchnoi Attack – adds 2. h3
• Continues with: Dutch Defense: Krejcik Gambit – adds 2. g4
• Continues with: Dutch Defense: Omega-Isis Gambit – adds 2. Nf3 e5
• Continues with: Dutch Defense: Raphael Variation – adds 2. Nc3
• Continues with: Dutch Defense: Senechaud Gambit – adds 2. Bf4 e6 3. g4
• Related line: Dutch Defense: Alapin Variation (1. d4 f5 2. Qd3)
• Related line: Dutch Defense: Barcza Variation (1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c3)
• Related line: Dutch Defense: Hevendehl Gambit (1. d4 f5 2. g4 e5)
• Related line: Dutch Defense: Hopton Attack (1. d4 f5 2. Bg5)
• Related line: Dutch Defense: Janzen-Korchnoi Gambit (1. d4 f5 2. h3 Nf6 3. g4)
• Related line: Dutch Defense: Kingfisher Gambit (1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 d5 3. e4)

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