Dutch Defense
1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 · A80–A99
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 12
f5 controls e4 but opens a king diagonal
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The idea
Black plays ...f5 against 1.d4, fighting for the e4 square and accepting a permanently weakened king's position in return.
Main line: 1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 d6
What White wants
- Attack the weakened kingside with e4 and the pieces
- Contest e4 and make Black prepare the ...e5 break carefully
- Challenge f5 or the central dark squares without weakening the white king
What Black wants
- Attack the white centre and play for ...e5 or ...e4
- Keep the king safe behind the pawns on e6 and d6
- Play for a kingside initiative before the structure is punished
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
f5 controls e4 but opens a king diagonal
The f5 pawn controls e4 and gives Black a central foothold, but vacating f7 opens the e8–h5 diagonal toward the uncastled king. Development and castling address that risk. The pawn is not automatically weak or isolated; its value depends on the central structure.
Common mistake
Advancing more kingside pawns before developing and securing the king. ...f4 can gain space, but opening the centre at the same time may expose Black. After ...e5 and dxe5, count recaptures rather than assuming f5 automatically becomes isolated.
Representative position
The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.
rnbq1rk1/ppp1b1pp/3ppn2/5p2/2PP4/5NP1/PP2PPBP/RNBQ1RK1 w - - 0 7
Analyze this positionVariations
3 lines branching from here.
Traps in this opening
Moves in this opening that look natural and lose.
All opening traps