Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...f5/2. c4/2...g6

Dutch Defence

With g6
A dynamic choice, the Dutch with g6 is a Leningrad setup. The pawn structure is practically always g6-f5-d6. Black plays in this system, with only a few rare exceptions, his bishop to g7, knight to f6, and castles quickly.

Leningrad Dutch main line is, with possible changes in move order: 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg2 d6 6. 0-0 0-0 7. Nc3 Qe8 (Diagram).

With 7...Qe8 black plans e5. White usually either plays a pawn advance on queenside with b4-b5 etc., which is helped by the strong bishop on g2 or/and plays for center with e4 and d5. In fact the space advancing move 8 d5 is main line. The main alternatives to 7..Qe8 for black are 7...c6 and 7..Nc6. 7..c6 is considered quite solid and played by former world champion M Botvinnik in the end of his career. 7... Nc6 is an ultra sharp alternative where black usually plays for kingside attack.

On absolute top level Leningrad Dutch is today rarely played. But it is used occasionally and former world champion Vladimir Kramnik played it several times in his youth. Its considered an excellent way for black to play for win, especially below grandmaster level, but the slight weakening of kingside with pawn f5 makes it not the taste of every strong chessplayer.

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Theory table
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'''1. d4 f5 2. c4 g6'''