Guided lesson · Intermediate · Openings

The Dutch: playing to win with Black

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Almost every defence to 1.d4 aims to equalise first and see what happens later. The Dutch doesn't: with 1...f5 Black stands up in the centre on the kingside, takes the e4 square and announces he's playing to win. The price is paid on the very same move — pushing the f-pawn weakens the diagonal leading to his own king and leaves a hole on e6 that never closes. It's an opening for someone who prefers an unbalanced game to a quiet draw, and it's worth knowing both things before choosing it: it gives rich positions, and also the fastest losses in the repertoire if the attack stops.

The key idea

1...f5 is played for the e4 square: Black wants to plant a knight there and attack on the kingside. In exchange he accepts a permanent weakness on the a2-g8 diagonal and on e6, so his king lives with more risk than in any other defence.

Example 1 · The e4 square, which is what this is all about

Classical Dutch with ...Be7 and castling. Watch the first thing Black does the moment he has a free move.

c4 I take my share of the centre and gain space. My plan as White in this opening is easy to state: play in the centre and on the queenside, where he isn't looking.
Ne4 And there's the move the Dutch is played for. The knight plants itself on e4 — the square the f5 pawn controls — and no white pawn can chase it, because that would need a pawn of mine on d3 or f3 and both are busy elsewhere. An eternal knight in the centre, in exchange for having moved the f-pawn.
Qc2 I press the knight with the queen and prepare to trade it or dislodge it with pieces, since I can't do it with pawns.
d5 Black props his knight up with the pawn. That knight is his whole game.
Nc3 I add another piece against e4.
c6 And he defends it again. Notice the pattern of the whole opening: I try to dislodge the e4 knight and he props it up; as long as it stays there, he has play.
Bf4 I develop the last bishop to an active diagonal.
g5 And Black pushes on the kingside, which is his usual plan. The honest valuation: the position is level and it's hard for both sides to play. Nobody signs an early draw with the Dutch — which is exactly why you choose it.

Example 2 · The Stonewall: the wall of pawns

The most characteristic version: pawns on c6, d5, e6 and f5 forming a wall. As solid as they come, with one piece condemned.

Nbd2 Look at the wall he has built: pawns on c6, d5, e6 and f5. It's called the Stonewall and it does exactly what the name promises — my knight doesn't have a single entry square through the centre and his knight will have e4 forever.
b6 And here's the problem Black has to solve all game: his c8 bishop. With his own pawns on c6, d5, e6 and f5, that piece is shut inside its own house, and ...b6 is the attempt to get it out the back door.
cxd5 I trade in the centre to open lines against his wall.
exd5 A forced recapture, which keeps the wall standing.
Ne5 My knight occupies the square his wall leaves me: e5 is my own personal e4, and I dominate from there. In closed structures both sides have their eternal square; the game is about who gets more out of theirs.
O-O Black tucks the king away.
Qc2 I put the queen on the open file.
Be6 And the bad bishop finally comes out, which was his outstanding task. Level position. Keep the summary of the Stonewall: it gives you a structure that doesn't break and an eternal square on e4, and it charges you the c8 bishop and your king's safety. It's an honest deal, but you should know you're signing it.

Practice

You're White against the Dutch. Take your share of the centre and contest the e4 square with pieces, because you won't manage it with pawns.

Your share of the centre and space. Your play is here and on the queenside, where he isn't looking. Occupy the centre with the pawn you have free on the queenside.
You press the e4 knight with a piece. With pawns you can't: your d- and f-pawns are busy. Attack the e4 knight with the queen, along the file.
A second attacker. White's whole game consists of dislodging that knight. Add the b1 knight to the attack on e4.
And you develop the last bishop to an active diagonal. A rich, difficult position for both, which is what this opening guarantees. Bring the c1 bishop out to an active square.

The Dutch comes down to two sentences: Black plays it for the e4 square and pays for it with his king's safety and the c8 bishop. If you play it, go for that square and don't sign early draws; if you meet it, contest e4 with pieces and play on the queenside, where he isn't looking. And in both directions, remember what you're signing: there are no quiet games here.