Dutch Defense

Dutch Defense is a chess opening with the ECO code A84. It goes 1. d4 f5 2. c4. White opens with 1. d4 (the queen's pawn) and Black answers 1... f5. After 3 moves it is Black 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
• 2. c4 – White plays the pawn to c4

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 2... Nf6.

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: Dutch Defense (1. d4 f5)
• Continues with: Dutch Defense: Bladel Variation – adds 2... g6 3. Nc3 Nh6
• Continues with: Dutch Defense: Classical Variation – adds 2... e6
• Continues with: Dutch Defense: Normal Variation – adds 2... Nf6
• Related line: Dutch Defense: Staunton Gambit, Nimzowitsch Variation (1. d4 f5 2. e4 fxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 b6)
• Related line: Dutch Defense: Bellon Gambit (1. d4 f5 2. c4 e6 3. e4)
• Related line: Dutch Defense: Staunton Gambit, Lasker Variation (1. d4 f5 2. e4 fxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 g6 5. f3)
• Related line: Dutch Defense: Bladel Variation (1. d4 f5 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Nh6)
• Related line: Dutch Defense: Staunton Gambit, Chigorin Variation (1. d4 f5 2. e4 fxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 c6)
• Related line: Dutch Defense: Classical Variation (1. d4 f5 2. c4 e6)

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