ChessThe Dutch Defense is 1. d4 f5. White takes the center with the d-pawn, but instead of answering d5, Black pushes the f-pawn to fight for the e4 square. The position is unbalanced from move one, and Black often goes on to attack on the kingside. If you want a game with a bit of fire, this is a great opening to try when you play chess online.
Moves and position
Just one move, but lots of ideas:
1. d4White takes the center and gets ready to push e4 later.1... f5Black controls e4 with the f-pawn so White can't push e4 comfortably.
Pushing f5 has a plus side and a cost. The plus: Black grabs e4, and the f-file can later bring a rook into the attack. The cost: the f-pawn next to the king has moved, the diagonal from e8 to h5 is open, and the king is easier to check.
What White wants
- Bishop to g2: The most common plan is g3 and Bg2. The bishop presses on Black's center from the long diagonal and keeps White's king well hidden.
- Find a way to push e4: Once the e-pawn gets in, half the point of f5 is gone.
- Keep an eye on the e8-h5 diagonal: Black's king is a bit exposed, and sometimes the white queen just jumps to h5 with check.
What Black wants
- Control e4: The f5 pawn, the f6 knight, and sometimes a pawn on d5 all hold e4 together.
- A kingside attack: Castle first, then use the rook on the f-file and bring the queen to e8 and then h5 to press on White's kingside.
- Pick a pawn structure: The Stonewall (pawns on c6, d5, e6, f5) or the Leningrad (bishop on g7). The two have very different ideas.
Main lines
Stonewall: c6, d5, e6, f5
The name says it all: the center pawns are like a stone wall, and White has a hard time breaking through. Black often puts a knight on e4 and then attacks on the kingside. The downside is that no pawn can guard the e5 square, and White's knights love to jump there. The c8 bishop is also blocked by its own pawns.
Leningrad: bishop on g7
Black plays g6 and Bg7 so the bishop eyes the long diagonal, and the d6 pawn gets ready to push e5 later. This setup is more flexible and both sides have chances. Players who like complicated positions love it.
Staunton Gambit: 2. e4
This is White's most aggressive answer. Black takes the e4 pawn, White brings the knight to c3 and the bishop to g5, and soon wins the pawn back, or simply stays a pawn down to attack. Black has to be careful, because the squares around the king are all weak.
A common trap: the white queen breaks through on e8-h5
Once the Dutch has pushed f5, the e8-h5 diagonal next to the king is open. Here is a famous trap where Black keeps pushing pawns to chase White's bishop:
It looks like the bishop on g3 is about to be taken by the f4 pawn. But Black's f-, g- and h-pawns have all moved forward, and there's nothing left in front of the king. If Black really takes the bishop:
Another common try is for Black not to take, but to push h5 to block the diagonal with a pawn. White still has a way:
What Black should do: don't chase the bishop with your kingside pawns. In the Dutch, the king is already a bit exposed, and once f5 is pushed, it's best to leave the g- and h-pawns alone for now. When the bishop hits f6 or e7, just develop normally with knights and pawns. Remember: every pawn you push in front of your king is one less wall.
Show answer
6. Qh5# The white queen jumps to h5 with check. The f- and g-pawns in front of the black king have both moved, so the diagonal is wide open. Black has nothing to put on g6 or f7, and the king has no square to escape to.
Who it suits
- Black players who want to take the fight to White: The Dutch breaks the symmetry from move one, so the game never gets dull.
- Players who love a kingside attack: A rook on the f-file plus the queen on h5 gives a clear attacking plan.
- Players willing to take some risk: The king is more exposed, so you need to know how to defend carefully.
It is a bit like the King's Indian Defense, especially the Leningrad, where the bishop also goes to g7. The difference is that the Dutch adds f5, grabbing e4 sooner and also exposing the king sooner.
FAQ
Is the Dutch Defense good for beginners?
You can play it, but know its weak spot first: after f5, the diagonal from e8 to h5 is open, and the white queen can easily jump in with check. Beginners can start with the Stonewall, where the pawn structure is fixed and easier to handle.
What is the difference between the Stonewall and the Leningrad?
The Stonewall puts the pawns on c6, d5, e6 and f5. The center is very hard and the ideas are simple. The Leningrad puts the bishop on g7 and a pawn on d6. It is more flexible, and also more complicated.
What is White's most aggressive answer to the Dutch?
The Staunton Gambit (1. d4 f5 2. e4) is a very direct one: give a pawn, develop fast and go straight for Black's weakened kingside. Bringing the bishop to g5 early is also common, just like in the trap above.
Try it yourself
Use the button below to start a game against the computer from the Dutch Defense, and see if you can hold e4 without letting your king get broken open. For other openings, go back to the openings guide. For something different, head back to the chess online home page.
Play this opening against the computer