for Black · intermediate
Dutch Defense
2/2
1.d4f5
Black stakes a claim on the e4 square and fights for kingside attacking chances from move one. It is an ambitious answer to 1.d4 that offers distinct plans in three setups: Leningrad, Stonewall, and Classical.
Key ideas
- Grip the e4 square and aim for kingside attacking play
- Choose a system: Leningrad (...g6), Stonewall (...d5/...e6) or Classical (...e6/...d6)
- Push ...f5-f4 or open lines toward White's king
- Accept some kingside weakening for active, unbalanced play
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
Dutch Defense14.2M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
16%2.2M52%
14%2.0M51%
7%1000k50%
1.2%176k50%
1.1%162k51%
Famous games in this line28k master games
Aronian, Levon (2813) – Carlsen, Magnus (2862)Caruana, F. (2802) – Carlsen, M. (2863)Anand, V. (2797) – Carlsen, M. (2865)Grischuk, A. (2781) – Carlsen, M. (2876)Rapport, R. (2747) – Carlsen, M. (2882)So, W. (2770) – Carlsen, M. (2855)Karjakin, Sergey (2781) – Carlsen, M. (2832)Caruana, Fabiano (2835) – Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2778)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, M. · Grischuk, A. · Caruana, Fabiano
Keep exploring
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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.
Study this opening