Chess Drills
Dutch Defense: three setups and two traps
In the Dutch Defense you answer 1.d4 with 1...f5. You fight for the e4-square in an unusual way: with the f-pawn instead of a centre pawn. The positions are unbalanced, and you often play for an attack on White's king.
The price is a slightly weaker king, especially on the diagonal from e8 to h5. You can choose between three setups: the Leningrad (pawn to g6, close to the King's Indian), the solid Stonewall (pawns on e6 and d5) and the flexible Classical (pawns on e6 and d6).
Good fit for: Players who want an unbalanced game against 1.d4 and like attacking the king.
Drill these 4 lines with spaced repetition: a few minutes a day, and the moves stick.
Key ideas
- Control e4. Your f5-pawn and your knight on f6 both look at e4. In the Stonewall your knight often lands on e4 and is hard to chase away.
- Bring the queen to the kingside. A typical idea is queen to e8, then on to h5 or g6 (or f7 in the Leningrad). From there it helps attack White's king.
- Prepare ...e5. In the Leningrad and Classical setups you usually prepare the e-pawn push to e5. It frees your position and opens lines for your pieces.
- Mind the e8-h5 diagonal. After 1...f5 the diagonal to your king is open. Be careful with early g- and h-pawn moves: a queen check on h5 can be deadly, as the traps below show.
The main lines
Leningrad: your bishop on the long diagonal
You put your dark-squared bishop (the one on f8) on g7 in a fianchetto (bishop on the long diagonal after g6) and castle. Then your queen goes to e8. This is the most dynamic Dutch setup, with ideas like the King's Indian.
- Your plan: push the e-pawn to e5 for more space and open lines.
- Why queen to e8? It supports the e5 push and can later go to f7 or h5.
- Good to know: the bishop on g7 is your strongest piece here.
Stonewall: a wall of pawns
You build a wall of pawns on c6, d5, e6 and f5. Your bishop goes to d6 and your queen to e7. The e4-square becomes a strong outpost for you (a square where a piece can't be chased away by pawns).
- Why queen to e7? It stops White from trading off your best bishop, the one on d6, with the bishop to a3.
- Watch out: the e5-square is weak, because none of your pawns can protect it.
- Your plan for the light-squared bishop (the one on c8): b6 and bishop to b7, or the long way round via d7 and e8 to h5.
Classical: a flexible setup with the bishop on e7
You put pawns on e6 and d6, the bishop on e7, and castle. Then your queen goes to e8, just like in the Leningrad.
- Your plan: push the e-pawn to e5, and use the queen on h5 or g6 for a kingside attack.
- Good to know: this setup sits between the sharp Leningrad and the solid Stonewall.
Against the Staunton Gambit: White gives a pawn
White pushes the e-pawn at once and gives up a pawn for quick development. You take it and bring out your knights. Your knight then goes via e5 to f7, where it defends your kingside.
- Your plan: develop quickly and get your king to safety.
- Watch out: White's queen and knight put pressure on your extra pawn on e4.
- Good to know: White has active pieces, you have an extra pawn.
Traps and mistakes to avoid
Don't chase the bishop too far
White's bishop comes to g5, and you chase it with your g- and h-pawns and the f-pawn. That weakens your king a lot. After White's bishop goes to d3, the natural rook move 6...Rh6 loses at once: White's queen takes on h5 with check. If your rook takes the queen, the bishop goes to g6 and it is mate. Putting the rook on g6 instead is also mate.
Don't take the rook on h7
White gives a pawn with the g-pawn push, which opens the h-file. White's queen comes to d3, and then the rook takes on h7. Now White threatens queen to g6, which is mate. Taking the rook doesn't help: whether you take with the knight or the rook, the queen goes to g6 and it is mate.
Questions
Is the Dutch Defense sound?
Yes. It is less common than 1...d5 or 1...Nf6, but it is played at every level. Your king is a little more exposed, so you need to know the typical dangers.
Leningrad, Stonewall or Classical?
Choose the Leningrad if you like the King's Indian, the Stonewall if you want a fixed, solid structure with clear plans, and the Classical if you want something in between.
What should I learn first?
Pick one setup and learn it well. Then learn the answers to White's early tries, such as the Staunton Gambit (2.e4) and the bishop to g5, which you will meet often at club level.
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