ECO A80 · for Black
Dutch Defense
The line below is what Lichess 1600-1800 players actually play: after the opening's defining moves, each move is the most common choice at that point. The notes are Chessbook's move notes, the same ones shown while building a repertoire.
5,250,903 games in this band reached the Dutch Defense position. From there Black won 46% and drew 4%.
1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. e3
Moves 1 to 2
1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6
1. d4
The Queen's Pawn opening is more usually more positional in nature, White intends to develop the pieces while having a share of the center.
1... f5
Black's goal is to prevent e4 and fight to play e5 himself
2. c4
Expanding on the queenside and aiming to use the space advantage.
- 2. Bf4: Developing the dark squared bishop and fighting against one of black's main breaks here, e5.
- 2. Nf3: Developing the knight while controlling the e5 square and aiming to retain a space advantage.
2... Nf6
Developing the knight and controlling the e4 square.
Moves 3 to 4
3. Nc3 e6 4. Bg5 Be7
3. Nc3
Developing the knight and aiming to keep the queenside space advantage, while keeping in mind the possibility of breaking in the center with e4.
3... e6
4. Bg5
4... Be7
Moves 5 to 6
5. Nf3 O-O 6. e3
5. Nf3
5... O-O
6. e3
Plans for Black in this position
What Black usually does from here in Chessbook's games data. Hover a move to see it on the board.
- The queenside knight typically develops to c6
- The light-squared bishop can develop to b7 or d7
- The queen generally develops to e8
- Common pawn moves are d6, c6, and b6
Related opening guides
- Sicilian Defense for Black
- French Defense for Black
- Scandinavian Defense for Black
- Caro-Kann Defense for Black
- Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation for Black
- Philidor Defense for Black