Chess Openings Lab
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Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation

The Leningrad Variation of the Dutch arises after 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 g6, with Black fianchettoing the dark bishop behind the f5 pawn. White develops with Nf3, Bg2, Nc3 and short castling, while Black plans ...Bg7, ...O-O, ...d6 and the ...e5 break.

Moves
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 g6
ECO
A86, A87
Engine
+0.56 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
351 games in our lichess sample
White scores
51.7%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Finish development with Nf3, Bg2, Nc3 and short castling; the order is flexible, as all three engine lines show.
  • Push d5 at the right time to gain space and keep the g7 bishop's diagonal blocked.
  • Prepare b4 and Rb1 for queenside expansion; Black's ...a5 is meant to slow exactly this plan.
  • Use Qc2 and e4 to challenge f5 when Black's e-pawn has not yet advanced.

Black

  • Develop with ...Bg7, ...O-O and ...d6, then prepare ...e5 with ...Nc6 or ...Qe8.
  • ...a5, as in the engine line, holds back White's b4 push and gives a knight the b4 square.
  • ...c6 and ...Qa5 or ...Qe8 are common to support ...e5 and reroute the queen.
  • If White pushes d5, use ...Na6 and ...Nc5 to target e4 and keep pieces active.

Plans and pawn structure

This is a double fianchetto fight. Black's main plan is ...e5, opening the g7 bishop and gaining central space; White tries to stop it with Nc3 and d5 or to meet it by opening the d-file and playing against e6. On the queenside, White expands with b4 and Rb1, and Black slows that with ...a5. Black also has kingside chances with ...Qe8, ...h6 and ...g5 in some lines, while White aims at e6 with the g2 bishop.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.56: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.56 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.Nc3 d6
  2. +0.55 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.Nf3 c6
  3. +0.53 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3 d6 6.Nc3 O-O

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

351 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.7%.

1600–199950.0%
2000 and up51.7%

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

How to play against it

As White, castle quickly and choose a setup against ...e5: d5 to grab space or Qc2 and e4 to hit f5. Do not let Black play ...e5 for free while your pieces are passive. Watch the long diagonal, since Black's g7 bishop and your d4 pawn face each other.

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 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Nf3.

Questions

What are the moves of the Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation?

The Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation starts 1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 g6. Its ECO code is A86, A87.

Is the Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.56 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 351 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.7%. A dynamic choice for Black players who like King's Indian ideas; White needs a clear plan against ...e5.

What is the main idea of the Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation?

Black combines the f5 pawn with a kingside fianchetto, aiming for ...d6 and ...e5 to grab the center. White develops naturally and fights with d5, b4 or e4 to show the f5 pawn left holes.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nf3, with Nc3 and Bg2 close behind. 4.Nf3 develops first and keeps e5 covered, so Black's ...e5 break needs more preparation.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.