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LEARN CHESS ON DUOLINGO

Dutch Defense: 3 quick facts

  • The Dutch Defense is thought to have been named after Dutch chess player and author Elias Stein, who recommended this opening as a response to 1. d4 in his 1789 book on chess.
  • It’s an imbalanced, attacking opening, rarely leading to draws. Despite being sound, this opening isn’t very common at top levels, although it does appear in some leading grandmasters’ repertoires.
  • By playing 1…f5, Black prevents White from advancing in the center with 2. e4. Because the Dutch isn’t as common as other Black responses to 1. d4, it may throw off less experienced players.

Dutch Defense: The moves

Here are the moves for the Dutch Defense:

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1. d4 f5

A gif showing the opening moves for the Dutch Defense: 1. White’s d-pawn moves to d4 and Black’s f-pawn moves to f5.

Keep your opponents on their toes

Play the Dutch if you want sharp, attacking lines from Black against 1. d4.

If you’re looking for more openings, check out our guide featuring over 30 options for every skill level!