Don Chess

Learn the Dutch Defense

1…f5 – you tell White straight away: we’re playing for a kingside attack. Unbalanced, brave and perfect for pulling opponents out of theory.

You play with Black. How you learn it with Don Chess: watch first, then play it with an arrow, then from memory – with spaced repetition until it sticks. Free, no sign-up.

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The main line

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 d6 7.Nc3

A81 · Dutch Defense: Semi-Leningrad Variation

The position after the main line

The moves explained

Why is each move played? The explanations come from the opening trainer – there you play the moves yourself afterwards.

  1. 1.d4 Occupies the centre with a pawn on d4.
  2. 1…f5 Fights for the centre from the side with the pawn on f5.
  3. 2.g3 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop goes to the long diagonal.
  4. 2…Nf6 Develops the knight to f6 – pieces out first, then attack.
  5. 3.Bg2 Develops the bishop to g2 – pieces out first, then attack.
  6. 3…g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop goes to the long diagonal.
  7. 4.Nf3 Develops the knight to f3 – pieces out first, then attack.
  8. 4…Bg7 Develops the bishop to g7 – pieces out first, then attack.
  9. 5.O-O Castles: the king is safe and the rook joins the game.
  10. 5…O-O Castles: the king is safe and the rook joins the game.
  11. 6.c4 Fights for the centre from the side with the pawn on c4.
  12. 6…d6 Prepares the pawn move to c5.
  13. 7.Nc3 Develops the knight to c3 – pieces out first, then attack.

Idea and plans

The idea

1…f5 controls e4 and prepares a kingside attack, but weakens Black’s king.

Plan for White

A g3/Bg2 fianchetto, open the centre with e4 and use the e6 weakness.

Plan for Black

Stonewall (…d5, …e6, …c6) or Leningrad (…g6, …Bg7) with a kingside attack.

Tip

Watch for early queen checks on h5 and the e8–h5 diagonal.

The 8 lines in the course

Grey: the moves shared with the main line. Bold: the move where the line leaves it.

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More openings