Dutch Defense: Semi-Leningrad Variation

Dutch Defense: Semi-Leningrad Variation is a chess opening with the ECO code A81, part of the Dutch Defense family. It goes 1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6. White opens with 1. d4 (the queen's pawn) and Black answers 1... f5. After 6 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
2. g3 – White plays the pawn to g3
2... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6
3. Bg2 – White plays the bishop to g2
3... g6 – Black plays the pawn to g6

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 4. Nf3.

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: Semi-Leningrad Variation course lesson.

Related openings

It extends: Dutch Defense: Fianchetto Attack (1. d4 f5 2. g3)
Continues with: Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation, Warsaw Variation – adds 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O
Continues with: Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation, Matulovic Variation – adds 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O
Related line: Dutch Defense: Leningrad, Basman System (1. d4 f5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O Nh6)
Related line: Dutch Defense: Blackmar's Second Gambit (1. d4 f5 2. e4 fxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3)
Related line: Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation, Carlsbad Variation (1. d4 f5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nh3)
Related line: Dutch Defense: Staunton Gambit (1. d4 f5 2. e4)
Related line: Dutch Defense: Staunton Gambit Accepted (1. d4 f5 2. e4 fxe4)
Related line: Dutch Defense: Blackburne Variation (1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. Nh3)

Browse every named opening · Opening courses