simplifychess.com's
guide to

The Dutch
Defense

How To Play The Dutch Defense,
The Theory Behind It,
And How To Counter It

1
Classical Dutch 2 White’s Plans
3 Use Bishop To Attack This Long Diagonal
4 Open up diagonals by exchanging this pawn
5 Get Queen on This Diagonal
Black’s Plans
6 Use this pawn to open up lines
7 Get Knight To This Square (To Trade With White Knight)
8 Control this Square
Leningrad Dutch 9 White’s Plans
10 Open up lines
(For Rook and Bishop)
11 Use Bishop To Attack This Long Diagonal
12 Attack on Queenside Flank
Black’s Plans
13 Attack on Queenside Flank
14 Use Queen To Control This Diagonal
15 Castle Kingside
Stonewall Dutch 16 White’s Plans
17 Place Knight In Outpost Square
(To Control Black’s Squares)
18 Counter play on Queenside
19 Set up this structure to protect King
Black’s Plans
20 Trade this pawn to open up lines for attacks
21 Move Queen To Attack White’s Castled King
22 Point Knight To Attack White’s Castled King
23 Point Bishop To Attack White’s Castled King
Staunton Gambit 24 White’s Plans
25 Take the pawn
26 Move Knight Here
(Threatening to take Pawn)
27 Win Back Pawn
Black’s Plans
28 Develop Piece
(While also protecting pawn)
29 Give Back Pawn