Dutch Defense
69 variations · A80 to A99
The idea
f5 fights for e4.
Black plays f5 and fights for the e4 square. That gives chances on the kingside, but Black's own king is a little more exposed.
Where it comes from
Elias Stein, an Alsatian who settled in The Hague, recommended this defense as the best reply to 1.d4 in his 1789 book. The Dutch Defense never became a main line against 1.d4, and at the highest level you rarely see it today. Still, strong players have used it with success, among them Alekhine, Larsen, Najdorf and Nakamura. In the 1951 world championship match both Botvinnik and his challenger Bronstein played it. Carlsen has beaten Anand with its Stonewall setup. It is a sharp, unbalancing opening: of the common replies to 1.d4, it ends in a draw least often.
The opening itself
A80 · 1 move
Dutch Defense
Variations 69
Names and moves from lichess-org/chess-openings (CC0).