Dutch Defense
The Dutch Defense starts 1.d4 f5, where Black takes control of e4 with a pawn and prepares kingside play. White can attack the weakened kingside early with Bg5, e4 or a fianchetto, while Black builds a Stonewall, a Leningrad or an ...e6 and ...d6 setup.
- Moves
- 1.d4 f5
- ECO
- A80, A84
- Engine
- +0.52 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 21,725 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 51.5%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Hit the weakened kingside early with Bg5, as in the top engine line, or with the e4 gambit.
- Fianchetto with g3 and Bg2, then play c4, Nf3 and O-O and aim for the e4 break.
- Against the Stonewall, trade the dark-squared bishops with Bf4 and use the e5 square for a knight.
- In the Staunton Gambit, play Nc3 and Bg5 to regain the e4 pawn with quick development.
Black
- Control e4 with the f5 pawn and a knight, and keep White from playing e4 cheaply.
- Build the Stonewall with ...e6, ...d5 and ...c6, then put a knight on e4 and swing the queen to e8 and then h5 after castling.
- Play the Leningrad with ...g6, ...Bg7 and ...d6, preparing ...e5 to hit the center.
- Against Bg5 lines, answer with ...h6 and ...g5 to gain kingside space and win time on the bishop.
Plans and pawn structure
The f5 pawn gives Black a grip on e4 and makes kingside play possible, but it also weakens the e8-h5 diagonal and the e6 square. In the Stonewall Black fixes the center with pawns on c6, d5, e6 and f5, then attacks with ...Ne4 and a queen lift from d8 to e8 and h5; White wants a knight on e5 and pressure on the queenside. In the Leningrad Black prepares ...e5. White's main break is e4 in most lines, which opens the position when Black's king is less safe.
What the Dutch is about
After 1.d4 f5 Black takes control of e4 with a pawn. That stops White's central expansion and gives Black kingside chances, often with a queen on h5 and a knight on e4. The cost is a slightly weaker king: the e8-h5 diagonal is open and the e6 square can become a hole.
Black chooses between three main setups. The Stonewall uses pawns on c6, d5, e6 and f5. The Leningrad goes ...g6 and ...Bg7. A third setup uses ...e6, the bishop on e7 and ...d6. Across 21725 games from this position White scored 51.5%, close to even.
The main variations
After 2.c4 Black often plays ...Nf6. The Normal Variation, 2...Nf6, leads to the Queen's Knight Variation, 3.Nc3, the most played line, with White aiming for e4. With 3.g3 White heads for a fianchetto, and Black chooses between the Leningrad, 3...g6, and the Stonewall with ...d5, where White scored only 47.3%.
The Classical Variation, 2.c4 e6, keeps both options open. After 3.Nc3 we reach the Rubinstein Variation, where White scored 47.5%.
White also has direct tries. The Raphael Variation, 2.Nc3, prepares e4. The Hopton Attack, 2.Bg5, is the engine's top choice and provokes ...h6 and ...g5. The Staunton Gambit, 2.e4, offers a pawn for quick development; White scored 58% in it, the best result in the family.
Typical plans for White
White's main break is e4. In the fianchetto lines White plays g3, Bg2, Nf3, O-O and c4, then Nc3 and Qc2 to support e4. Once e4 comes, the f5 pawn is exchanged and Black's king is more exposed.
Against the Stonewall, White aims at the dark squares: trade bishops with Bf4, put a knight on e5 and press on the queenside with b4 and c5.
- In the Hopton Attack, provoke ...h6 and ...g5 and use the weakened kingside.
- In the Staunton Gambit, regain the e4 pawn with Nc3, Bg5 and f3 or play for a fast attack.
- Keep an eye on e6; a knight there is a real threat to Black.
- Against the Leningrad, d5 can stop ...e5 and cramp the g7 bishop.
Typical plans for Black
Black's plan depends on the setup. In the Stonewall, a knight goes to e4, the queen to e8 and then h5, and Black attacks on the kingside, sometimes with ...g5 and ...f4. In the Leningrad, Black castles behind the g7 bishop and prepares ...e5, often with the queen on e8 or ...Nc6.
In the 2.c4 e6 lines Black stays flexible with ...e6, ...Be7 ideas and ...d6, then decides on ...e5 or ...Ne4.
- Fight for e4 in every line; that square is the reason for 1...f5.
- Castle quickly, because the e8-h5 diagonal is weak.
- In the Stonewall, the c8 bishop is the problem piece. Many players route it through d7 to e8 and h5, or play ...b6 and ...Bb7.
Mistakes club players make
- Black playing ...g5 and ...f4 carelessly. The Dutch bishop mate trap shows what happens. After 2.Bg5 h6 3.Bh4 g5 4.Bg3 f4 5.e3 h5 6.Bd3 the rook comes out with 6...Rh6, White sacrifices the queen with 7.Qxh5+, and after 7...Rxh5 the bishop mates with 8.Bg6# on the open diagonal.
- White allowing a knight on e4 to stay forever. Challenge it with Nd2 or f3, or it will cramp your position.
- Black leaving e6 weak. A White knight on e6 or g5 can be very strong.
- White rushing e4 without support. If the e4 pawn is lost, Black gets the center for free.
Who should play it
The Dutch suits Black players who want unbalanced games against 1.d4 and like kingside attacks. The Stonewall is easy to learn, while the Leningrad needs more understanding of King's Indian style play.
For White, the fianchetto lines give a safe edge, while 2.Bg5 and the Staunton Gambit are good choices for players who want to punish the weakened kingside early. Dutch players usually know their favorite setup well, so taking them into an early Bg5 or gambit position often gives White the practical edge.
It also helps that the Dutch structures repeat. Once you know how to meet the Stonewall knight on e4 and the Leningrad ...e5 break, you can face most Dutch players with confidence.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.52: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.52 2.Bg5 h6 3.Bh4 g5 4.e3 Bg7
- +0.50 2.c4 e6 3.a3 Nf6 4.Nc3 g6
- +0.50 2.Bf4 e6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Be2 Be7
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
21,725 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.5%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Traps and pitfalls
Dutch Defense Bg6 mate (White sets it)
In this Dutch Defense line, Black chases the g3 bishop with pawns and leaves the e8-h5 diagonal open. After 6...Rh6, White sacrifices the queen on h5 to drag the rook away, and Bg6 is mate.
Variations of the Dutch Defense
- Raphael Variation2.Nc3 · 1,731 games
- Classical Variation2.c4 · 1,268 games
- Hopton Attack2.Bg5 · 867 games
- Staunton Gambit2.e4 · 494 games
- Fianchetto Attack2.g3 · 308 games
- Manhattan Gambit, Anti-Stonewall2.Qd3 · rare
- Janzen-Korchnoi Gambit2.h3 · rare
- Krejcik Gambit, Tate Gambit2.g4 · rare
- Barcza Variation2.Nf3 · rare
- Spielmann Gambit2.Nc3 · rare
- Senechaud Gambit2.Bf4 · rare
How to play against it
As White, choose between a quiet fianchetto with g3, Bg2, c4 and Nf3, and a direct try like 2.Bg5 or the Staunton Gambit 2.e4. The engine's top choice is 2.Bg5, which provokes ...h6 and ...g5. Whatever you choose, prepare e4; that break is how White opens lines against the Dutch.
Full guide: how to beat the Dutch Defense
Other lines with this name
The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.d4 f5 2.c4.
Questions
What are the moves of the Dutch Defense?
The Dutch Defense starts 1.d4 f5. Its ECO code is A80, A84.
Is the Dutch Defense good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.52 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 21,725 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.5%. A fighting choice for Black players who want unbalanced, attacking positions and accept a slightly loose king.
What is the main idea of the Dutch Defense?
Black controls e4 with the f-pawn and builds an unbalanced position with kingside chances. White tries to exploit the weakened kingside and break with e4.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is Bg5, with c4 and Bf4 close behind. 2.Bg5 hits e7 at once and provokes ...h6 and ...g5, weakening Black's kingside further.
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.