Semi-Closed · a defense for Black

Dutch Defense: Blackburne Variation

7/7
1.d4f52.g3Nf63.Bg2e64.Nh3
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Dutch Defense: Blackburne Variation25k games · Black to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
43%11k42%
29%7.2k43%
6.8%1.7k40%
5.5%1.4k42%
5.4%1.4k40%
2.7%68232%
2.2%56339%
2.1%53344%
1.3%34143%
1.2%29239%
Famous games in this line225 master games
Karpov, Anatoly (2725)Short, Nigel D (2685)19921–0Karpov, Anatoly (2730)Nikolic, Predrag (2625)1991½–½Aleksandrov, Aleksej (2617)Azarov, Sergei (2613)20081–0Azmaiparashvili, Zurab (2670)Ponomariov, Ruslan (2550)19961–0Nikolic, Predrag (2600)Chandler, Murray G (2585)1989½–½Aleksandrov, Aleksej (2582)Azarov, Sergei (2585)2008½–½Pavlovic, Milos (2507)Moiseenko, Alexander (2632)20060–1Moradiabadi, Elshan (2536)Gopal, Geetha Narayanan (2592)20111–0
Heroes of this opening Karpov, Anatoly · Aleksandrov, Aleksej · Azmaiparashvili, Zurab · Moiseenko, Alexander
Category
Semi-Closed
First move
1.d4
ECO
A81
Line
1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. Nh3
FianchettoSharp
Read the guide: Dutch DefenseExplore all 69 Dutch Defense lines
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From the archives

Botvinnik and Bronstein both played the Dutch in their 1951 world-championship match. Alekhine tried it against Euwe in 1935 and lost the 'Pearl of Zandvoort' with it, which is the honest half of its reputation. 1...f5 grabs kingside space before White finishes tying a shoe — at the cost of weakening the king forever.

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