Black answers 1.d4 with 1...f5 and fights for the e4 square. You meet the Dutch with the fianchetto 2.g3 and a bishop on g2. You learn how to handle the Leningrad, the Stonewall and the Classical set-ups. You also get two sharp tries, 2.Nc3 with 3.Bg5 and the Staunton Gambit 2.e4. Two traps punish Black's common errors. This is a intermediate opening course for White (ECO A80-A99) with 6 variations and 2 traps, written for players rated around 1500. Each move is explained and then drilled on a board; it is free.
Key ideas of Against the Dutch
Put your bishop on g2. It hits d5 and e4 and keeps your king safe.
Against the Leningrad, push the d-pawn to d5. It gains space and blunts the g7 bishop.
Against the Stonewall, the e5 square is a hole. Trade the dark-squared bishops and aim your pieces at e5.
Prepare the e4 push with your pieces. It opens the centre while Black's king is a little open.
The f-pawn has left Black's king. Watch for a queen check on h5, above all after ...h6.
Variations you learn
Leningrad: 7...Qe8 8.d5 – 1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O …. Black fianchettoes with ...g6 and ...Bg7 and plays ...d6 and ...Qe8. White pushes 8.d5 to gain space and blunt the g7 bishop. After the knight jumps to d4, White breaks with e4 and keeps a lasting edge.
Leningrad: 7...c6 8.d5 – 1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O …. Black prepares ...e5 with 7...c6. White still pushes 8.d5. After the trades on e6 the d6 pawn is weak, and White's bishops point at the centre from b2 and g2.
Stonewall: 7.b3 and 8.Ba3 – 1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. Nf3 d5 5. O-O Bd6 …. Black builds the Stonewall with pawns on c6, d5, e6 and f5. White plays b3 and Ba3 to trade Black's good bishop. Then the queen comes to b2, and White controls the hole on e5.
Classical: 7...Ne4 8.Nxe4 – 1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O …. Black plays ...e6, ...Be7 and ...d6 and jumps to e4. White trades the knight and attacks the e4 pawn at once. After f3 the f-file opens, and White gets a strong centre.
2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5: the early pin – 1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 d5 4. Bxf6 exf6 5. e3 Be6 …. White develops the knight first and pins the f6 knight with 3.Bg5. After 3...d5 White takes on f6 and gives Black doubled f-pawns. The knight goes to f4, the h-pawn marches, and White has easy play.
Staunton Gambit: 2.e4 – 1. d4 f5 2. e4 fxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 g6 5. f3 exf3 …. White gives a pawn with 2.e4 for fast development and open lines. After 4.Bg5 g6 White opens the f-file with 5.f3, castles long and aims at Black's king with the queen and bishop.
Traps
2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 h6? 4.Bxf6: the check on h5 – Against 3.Bg5 the move 3...h6 looks natural. But with the h-pawn gone, the g6 pawn has no guard. White trades on f6, opens the centre with e4 and checks on h5.
Staunton: 3...d5? 4.Qh5+ – In the Staunton Gambit Black sometimes defends e4 with 3...d5. But the e8 to h5 diagonal is open. 4.Qh5+ forces ...g6, and the queen takes the d5 pawn.
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