Chess Openings Lab
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Dutch Defense: Fianchetto Attack

The Fianchetto Attack is 2.g3 against the Dutch, putting the king bishop's route to g2 first and delaying c4. White aims for Bg2, c4 and a knight on f3 or h3, while Black chooses between ...e6, ...Nf6, ...g6 or a Stonewall with ...d5.

Moves
1.d4 f5 2.g3
ECO
A81
Engine
+0.47 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
308 games in our lichess sample
White scores
47.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Bg2 aims down the long diagonal at b7 and e4, the squares Black's f-pawn does not cover.
  • Follow with c4 and Nf3 or Nc3, as all three engine lines show.
  • Delaying Nf3 keeps Nh3 possible, a common route to f4 against Dutch setups.
  • Against an early ...d5, Qb3 can hit b7 once the bishop is on g2.

Black

  • 2...e6 or 2...Nf6 keeps the options of a Stonewall or a classical Dutch.
  • ...g6 heads for a Leningrad, matching White's fianchetto with one of your own.
  • 2...d5 builds a Stonewall at once, but White gets c4 and Nc3 against d5.
  • Develop with ...Be7 and short castling before starting any kingside play, so the g2 bishop has no quick targets.

Plans and pawn structure

White plays a Catalan-like setup against the Dutch. The bishop on g2 and the c4 push put pressure on d5 and e4. Black's plans depend on structure: in the Leningrad Black plays ...d6 and ...e5, in the Stonewall Black plants a knight on e4, and in a classical setup Black prepares ...d6 and ...e5. White usually castles short and pushes for e4 or d5 to cramp Black.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.47: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.47 2...e6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bg2
  2. +0.47 2...Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bg2
  3. +0.63 2...d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Nf3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

308 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 47.6%.

1200–159954.2%
1600–199950.3%
2000 and up43.0%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Leningrad Variation, Matulovic Variation2...Nf6 · rare
  • Leningrad Variation, Carlsbad Variation2...g6 · rare
  • Leningrad, Basman System2...c6 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, pick your Dutch system and play it. ...Nf6 and ...e6 or ...g6 are all fine. Avoid early pawn moves like ...e5 before you have castled, since the e-file and g2 bishop can punish them. Castle short first, then decide on your central break.

Questions

What are the moves of the Dutch Defense: Fianchetto Attack?

The Dutch Defense: Fianchetto Attack starts 1.d4 f5 2.g3. Its ECO code is A81.

Is the Dutch Defense: Fianchetto Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.47 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 308 lichess games from our sample, White scored 47.6%. A flexible and safe choice for White that keeps transposition options open; Black needs one reliable Dutch setup.

What is the main idea of the Dutch Defense: Fianchetto Attack?

White fianchettoes the king bishop at once to control e4 and the long diagonal. Black picks a Dutch system with ...Nf6, ...e6, ...g6 or ...d5, and the game usually transposes to main lines after c4.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is e6, with Nf6 and d5 close behind. 2...e6 keeps all of Black's Dutch structures available while White commits to the fianchetto.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.