---
title: "Dutch Defense: Moves, Plans and Win Rates"
url: "https://georgelichess.com/openings/dutch-defense.md"
canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/openings/dutch-defense"
last_updated: "2026-11-10"
type: "reference"
summary: "The Dutch Defense explained by an International Master: the Leningrad and Stonewall setups, plans for both sides, typical mistakes and how it scores."
related: ["https://georgelichess.com/chess-opening-statistics/dutch-defense.md", "https://georgelichess.com/openings.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/stonewall-structure.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-safety.md", "https://georgelichess.com/pricing.md", "https://georgelichess.com/book.md"]
---

# Dutch Defense: Moves, Plans and Win Rates

> **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md.

The Dutch Defense explained by an International Master: the Leningrad and Stonewall setups, plans for both sides, typical mistakes and how it scores.

The Dutch Defense begins 1.d4 f5. Black takes control of the e4 square on the first move and aims for an attack on the kingside. It is an unbalanced opening that gives Black a good chance to win and also a good chance to lose, because the f-pawn move weakens the king and the diagonal a2 to g8. It is the favorite of players who want to avoid the heavy theory of 1...d5.

## The idea

Black's second move is the point. After 1.d4 f5 the pawn on f5 controls e4, and Black can play ...Nf6, ...e6 and ...d5 to build a strong pawn chain, or ...g6 and ...Bg7 to aim the bishop at the queenside. In both setups the pawn on e4 is taken away from White's pieces, and the center is fought on the wings.

**Diagram: The Dutch: the pawn on f5 controls e4 and Black prepares an attack on the kingside** Moves: 1. d4 f5. Position (FEN): `rnbqkbnr/ppppp1pp/8/5p2/3P4/8/PPP1PPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq f6 0 2`. Arrows: f5 to e4.

White's classical reply is 2.g3 with Bg2. The bishop on the long diagonal presses on the center and on b7, and it puts pressure on the weakened diagonal to the king.

## The two main setups

The Leningrad Dutch is the aggressive setup. Black plays ...g6, ...Bg7 and ...d6, and prepares a pawn storm with ...e5. The bishop on g7 is strong when the center opens, and Black's king is safe on g8 for a while.

**Diagram: The Leningrad Dutch: Black has the bishop on g7, a flexible d6 pawn and the plan of ...e5 and ...Nc6** Moves: 1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Qe8. Position (FEN): `rnb1qrk1/ppp1p1bp/3p1np1/5p2/2PP4/2N2NP1/PP2PPBP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 2 8`. Arrows: e7 to e5, b8 to c6.

The Stonewall Dutch is the solid setup. Black plays ...e6, ...d5 and ...c6 and builds a wall of pawns on c6, d5, e6 and f5. The wall takes away the e4 square and gives Black a plan of attack with the knight on e4. The price is a weak dark-squared bishop and a hole on e5.

**Diagram: The Stonewall: Black has the pawns on c6, d5, e6 and f5 and a knight that wants e4** Moves: 1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. b3 c6 8. Bb2 Bd6. Position (FEN): `rnbq1rk1/pp4pp/2pbpn2/3p1p2/2PP4/1P3NP1/PB2PPBP/RN1Q1RK1 w - - 2 9`. Arrows: f6 to e4, f3 to e5.

## How the Dutch scores

The table is computed from the public Lichess database, rated games between players of similar strength.

| Rating band | Games | White wins | Draws | Black wins | White score |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| under 1200 | 828 | 51.2% | 2.9% | 45.9% | 52.7% (plus or minus 3.4) |
| 1200 to 1599 | 2,645 | 50.0% | 3.3% | 46.7% | 51.6% (plus or minus 1.9) |
| 1600 to 1999 | 4,474 | 50.9% | 4.2% | 44.9% | 53.0% (plus or minus 1.4) |
| 2000 and above | 1,567 | 48.6% | 6.4% | 44.9% | 51.9% (plus or minus 2.4) |

The table sums 9,514 rated Blitz, Rapid and Classical games on Lichess played on 1 September 2026 between players within 100 rating points of each other, banded by the lower rating. White scored 52.4% (plus or minus 1.0 points) overall. A score counts a win as 1 and a draw as one half. One day of games is a sample, so read small gaps between bands as noise.

White scores 52.4 percent overall, and in every band the score sits between 51.6 and 53.0 percent. That is a small edge for White, a little larger than in the Sicilian or the French, which fits the reputation of the Dutch as a risky choice: Black takes on weaknesses in return for winning chances, and the prepared player is the one who profits.

## Plans for Black

In the Leningrad Dutch, Black has three standard ideas. The first is ...Qe8, which puts the queen on the diagonal toward a4 and backs up the break ...e5. The second is ...e5, a central break that gives the bishop on g7 life. The third is ...Na6 and ...c6 to attack on the queenside. In all of them the king stays on g8 and the pawn on g6 shelters it.

In the Stonewall the plan is to control e4 with the knight, then exchange the white bishop with ...Bd6 and ...Qe8 and ...Qh5 and attack the white king. A Stonewall player should be careful about the weak e5 square, since a white knight on e5 can dominate the position.

## Plans for White

White has several ways to cope. The classical line with g3 and Bg2 is solid and keeps a small advantage in space. White can also play the Staunton Gambit with 2.e4, offering a pawn for rapid development.

**Diagram: The Staunton Gambit: White gives a pawn for development, the bishop on g5 attacks the knight on f6, and Black has to be careful** Moves: 1. d4 f5 2. e4 fxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5. Position (FEN): `rnbqkb1r/ppppp1pp/5n2/6B1/3Pp3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R2QKBNR b KQkq - 3 4`. Arrows: g5 to f6, c3 to e4.

The gambit is sharp but not unsound. Black can take the pawn and give it back for a comfortable position, so a Dutch player has to know the safe lines. White's best practical choices are the g3 system, which is safe, and the e4 gambit, which is aggressive.

## When White closes the center

In the Leningrad White often plays d5 to stop ...e5 and fix the pawns. The center is closed, the knight on c6 has to move and the game becomes a maneuvering fight. White's plan is Nd2, Qc2 and e4 at the right moment, trying to break the grip of the pawn on f5. Black's plan is ...c5, ...Na5 and ...Bd7 or ...b6, and later a break with ...e5 or ...g5 when White's pieces have drifted from the kingside.

**Diagram: White has closed the center, the black knight sits on the rim and both sides prepare breaks with e4 and ...e5** Moves: 1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. d5 Na5 9. Nd2 c5 10. Qc2. Position (FEN): `r1bq1rk1/pp2p1bp/3p1np1/n1pP1p2/2P5/2N3P1/PPQNPPBP/R1B2RK1 b - - 1 10`. Arrows: c2 to e4, a5 to c4.

This type of position rewards the player who knows which break is available. White wants e4, so Black has to keep ...Ng4, ...Ne4 or ...fxe4 ready as an answer. Black wants ...e5, so White has to keep the knights near the center. A player who understands the pawn breaks needs only a few moves of preparation. A player who relies on memory is quickly out of ideas.

## Three typical mistakes

1. **Forgetting the diagonal.** The pawn move f5 weakens the a2 to g8 diagonal and the square e6. A Black player who does not watch it will meet a bishop check or a knight fork on a weak square.
2. **Pushing the kingside pawns too soon.** Black pushes ...g5 or ...h5 before the pieces are developed and creates holes. The pawns should follow the pieces, not lead them.
3. **Ignoring the e5 hole in the Stonewall.** If the dark-squared bishop is traded, a white knight on e5 cannot be dislodged by a pawn. Keep the bishop or have a plan to remove the knight.

## A practical note on move orders

Many Dutch players start with 1...e6 instead of 1...f5, so that they can choose between the Stonewall, the Classical and a Queen's Gambit Declined after White's second move. The idea is flexibility. The cost is that White can steer into a line where the pawn on f5 is not welcome, for example by playing 2.e4 with a French-type position. If you want the Dutch in every game, start with the pawn on f5 and accept that White gets a choice. If you want a flexible repertoire, play ...e6 and decide on the next move.

Whichever route you take, keep a list of the three or four positions you reach most often and write down the plan for each in one sentence. That list is the most valuable result of a month of Dutch games.

## Two model games

The first game is a Classical Dutch that begins 1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5. The second is the Raphael Variation, which meets 1...f5 with 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5. Both are real games from public events, published on Lichess broadcasts.

**Ju Wenjun (White) against Wei Yi (Black), Tata Steel Masters 2024: Black won.** [Replay the game on Lichess](https://lichess.org/broadcast/tata-steel-masters-2024/round-12/EDCwDiqA/IEkQuxuC)

1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 d5 5. Nh3 Bd6 6. O-O O-O 7. b3 dxc4 8. bxc4 c5 9. e3 Nc6 10. Bb2 Qb6 11. Qb3 cxd4 12. exd4 Na5 13. Qxb6 axb6 14. Rc1 Bd7 15. Nd2 Rac8 16. Bf1 Rc7 17. Nb3 Ra8 18. f3 Nc6 19. c5 bxc5 20. Nxc5 h6 21. Nxd7 Rxd7 22. Nf2 Ba3 23. Rcb1 Bxb2 24. Rxb2 Nxd4 25. f4 Ra3 26. Rab1 Nd5 27. Nd3 Nc3 28. Ra1 b5 29. Nb4 Nd1 30. Rg2 Ne3 31. Rb2 g5 32. fxg5 hxg5 33. Bg2 Rc7 34. Re1 Rc4 35. Bb7 Kg7 36. Kf2 f4 37. gxf4 gxf4 38. Rg1+ Kf6 39. h4 Rxb4

Lichess names the opening the Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, and the game began 1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 d5 5. Nh3 Bd6. Black won in 39 moves.

**Alvar Alonso Rosell (White) against Vasile Carafizi (Black), European Club Cup 2022: White won.** [Replay the game on Lichess](https://lichess.org/broadcast/37th-european-club-cup/round-3/pw6kPRoG/TZ18kW25)

1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 d5 4. Bxf6 exf6 5. e3 Be6 6. Bd3 c6 7. Qf3 g6 8. h3 Qd7 9. g4 fxg4 10. hxg4 Qg7 11. Nge2 Nd7 12. e4 O-O-O 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Nf4 Bg8 15. Nfxd5 f5 16. O-O-O Nf6 17. Nxf6 Qxf6 18. gxf5 Kb8 19. Be4 g5 20. Bxb7 Bb4 21. Nd5 Bxd5 22. Bxd5 g4 23. Qb3 Qb6 24. c4 h5 25. c5 Qh6+ 26. Kb1 Kc7 27. Be6 Rb8 28. Qg3+ Kb7 29. Qd6 Rh7 30. a3 Ba5 31. Rd3

Lichess names the opening the Dutch Defense: Raphael Variation, and the game began 1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 d5 4. Bxf6 exf6 5. e3 Be6. White won in 31 moves.

## How to study the Dutch

Choose one setup, the Leningrad or the Stonewall, and keep it for a year. Learn the three main plans and the typical mistakes above. Play fifty games, and in each one find the first moment where your opponent left the book. A coach can show you where your Dutch games fall apart and which plan to improve first. See the packages below to see how a lesson works.

| Offer | Lessons | Price | Per lesson |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Single lesson | 1 | $150 | $150 |
| Foundation 5 | 5 | $700 | $140 |
| Climb 10 | 10 | $1,350 | $135 |
| Intensive 25 | 25 | $3,250 | $130 |
| Season 40 | 40 | $5,000 | $125 |

Every lesson is 60 minutes, one-on-one, online. [See the packages](https://georgelichess.com/pricing.md).

## Frequently asked questions

**Is the Dutch Defense good?**

It is a sound opening that offers more winning chances than the usual defenses to 1.d4, with some risk. The Lichess results show White scoring a little above half the points at every level, so Black pays a small price for the unbalanced position.

**Which Dutch setup should I choose?**

The Stonewall is solid and gives you a clear plan with few lines to learn. The Leningrad is more dynamic and gives Black more winning chances. Pick the one that matches how you like to play.

**How do I play against the Dutch as White?**

The simplest approach is 2.g3 with Bg2 and a normal development. If you want a sharper fight, play the Staunton Gambit with 2.e4. In both cases watch the weak diagonal and the e6 square.

**Why is it called the Dutch Defense?**

The name goes back to Dutch players who analyzed the opening in the eighteenth century, and it stuck. The name tells you nothing about the moves.

## Turn the Dutch into a plan

A one-on-one lesson on your own games shows which Dutch setup suits you and where it breaks down. [Book a lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md).

## Related

- [Dutch Defense statistics](https://georgelichess.com/chess-opening-statistics/dutch-defense.md)
- [Chess Openings: Guides With Real Win Rates](https://georgelichess.com/openings.md)
- [Stonewall structure](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/stonewall-structure.md)
- [King safety](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-safety.md)
- [Lesson packages and prices](https://georgelichess.com/pricing.md)
- [Book a lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md)

## Related

- [Dutch Defense win rate](https://georgelichess.com/chess-opening-statistics/dutch-defense.md)
- [Chess Openings: Guides With Real Win Rates](https://georgelichess.com/openings.md)
- [Stonewall structure in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/stonewall-structure.md)
- [King safety in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/king-safety.md)
- [Chess lesson prices and packages](https://georgelichess.com/pricing.md)
- [Book a chess lesson with George Li](https://georgelichess.com/book.md)