The Dutch is a combative, asymmetrical answer to 1.d4: with 1...f5 Black fights for e4 at once and sets his sights on a kingside attack. The main branches are gathered here: the Leningrad, the Stonewall, the Classical and the Staunton Gambit. At each branching point, choose which line to play.
The dimmed moves are the rest of the main line, and the dots mark branching points. Click any move to jump to that position.
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The starting position. Choose your moves - at a branching point several continuations are available.
The Dutch begins with 1...f5 - Black seizes control of e4 at once and prepares kingside play. It is one of the most ambitious and asymmetrical answers to 1.d4: from move one Black is playing for the attack rather than for equality.
The price of activity is a weakened king position and the a2-g8 diagonal. So the Dutch demands precise, brave play: careless handling can make the weaknesses around the king fatal.
Black chooses one of three set-ups according to taste: the dynamic Leningrad, the solid Stonewall or the flexible Classical. White, meanwhile, nearly always fianchettoes the bishop on g2 to neutralise the weakened diagonal.
The Leningrad (...g6, ...Bg7) is the most dynamic: Black fianchettoes in King's Indian style and plays against the king. The Stonewall (...d5, ...e6, ...c6, ...Bd6) builds a solid pawn fortress around e4. The Classical (...e6, ...Be7, ...d6) is the flexible middle way.
If White does not want a quiet game, he tries the Staunton Gambit 2.e4 - a sharp pawn sacrifice to open the position at once and punish the weakening of the kingside.
The move 1...f5 announces the plan at once: Black takes e4 and prepares kingside play. Then comes the choice between three set-ups, and it should be a deliberate one - they lead to completely different positions.
The Leningrad: ...g6, ...Bg7, ...d6, ...Nf6 and preparation of the ...e5 break. The most dynamic - the bishop rakes the long diagonal and the play is sharp. The Stonewall: ...d5, ...e6, ...c6 - a pawn wall, a permanent e4 square for a knight and an attack on the king, but the c8 bishop stays bad all game. The Classical: ...e6, ...d6, ...Be7 - the universal compromise.
The common weakness of every set-up is the loosened a2-g8 diagonal and the king. So in the Dutch you cannot delay castling and cannot leave the king in the centre when lines open.
The main answer is the fianchetto: 2.g3 and Bg2. The bishop lines up against exactly what Black is trying to control and presses on d5 and the whole queenside. Then Nf3, 0-0, c4 and Nc3 - and White plays in the centre, where Black has no foothold.
The sharp route is the Staunton Gambit 2.e4!? fxe4 3.Nc3. For the pawn White gets development and open lines against a king that the Dutch has already weakened. In fast games it is a very unpleasant weapon.
And the most practical point: against the Stonewall you fight for e4 and trade the dark-squared bishops, while against the Leningrad you stop ...e5. If both breaks are prevented, Black is simply left with a weakened king and nothing to show for it.
The typical set-ups this opening leads to - learn them, and the plan follows by itself.
The pawns on d5, e6, f5 and c6 form the wall itself. Black holds e4 and plays for the attack, but the c8 bishop is shut in for a long time.
The other way to play the Dutch: bishop on g7, pawn on d6 and preparation of ...e5. More flexible than the Stonewall, but riskier.
These are the main named variations. Click any one of them and it loads straight onto the board above, where you can play it out move by move. The trainer itself holds more lines than this: it also covers main-line continuations and transpositions that have no name of their own.
What to avoid, and what catches an unprepared opponent.
Black chases the bishop with pawns and greedily takes it at the end - but ...g5 and ...f5 have already opened the diagonal to the king. Instead of 5...fxg3, play 5...h5 or simply develop.
White gives up a pawn at once to open lines before Black has developed. You can accept, but you will have to play accurately: after 2...fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 White has a dangerous initiative.
Not a tactical trap but the Dutch's main strategic problem. If you do not decide in advance where the light-squared bishop is going, it will sit behind its own pawns all game.
Traps in other openings - the 12 most common opening traps.
That is the Dutch's main risk: the f5 pawn really does weaken the a2-g8 diagonal and the approaches to the king. In return Black gets control of e4 and active kingside play. An opening for those willing to take a risk for the initiative.
A matter of taste and style. The Leningrad (...g6) is for lovers of sharp attacks, the Stonewall (...d5) for those who value solid fortresses, and the Classical (...e6, ...Be7) is universal and flexible. A beginner often finds the Classical easiest to start with.
It is the pawn formation d5-e6-f5 (often with c6 too), forming a solid wall. Black locks down e4 and attacks the king, but puts up with a passive light-squared bishop on c8. A very durable structure with clear plans.
Yes, entirely, though it is considered risky. Many strong players have used it, including the world champion Mikhail Botvinnik. The Dutch demands understanding and courage, but it gives Black a genuine chance to play for a win against 1.d4.
Want the tactics that decide these positions? Start with the 12 most common opening traps and tactics for beginners. If you are just starting out, read the rules of chess and how to set up the board.
Приложение подсказывает порядок шагов и не даст запутаться: оно само знает, когда объявлять следующий тур и кто с кем играет. Создание турнира бесплатное.
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