ECO A84 · Dutch Defense

Dutch Defense: Bladel Variation

1. d4 f5 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Nh6

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

4. Nf3+1.04

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Dutch Defense: Bladel Variation (A84), reached after 1. d4 f5 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Nh6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White. White is clearly better (+1.04).

Top engine moves

  1. +1.044. Nf3 Bg7 5. h4 Nf7 6. e4 d6 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. exf5 gxf5
  2. +1.004. h4 Bg7 5. Nf3 Nf7 6. e4 fxe4 7. Nxe4 d5 8. cxd5 Qxd5
  3. +0.954. e4 fxe4 5. h4 Bg7 6. h5 Nc6 7. d5 Ne5 8. Nxe4 d6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Dutch Defense: Bladel Variation?
After 1. d4 f5 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Nh6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Nf3 for White, continuing Bg7 5. h4 Nf7 6. e4 d6 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. exf5 gxf5. White is clearly better (+1.04). The next best moves are 4. h4 (+1.00) and 4. e4 (+0.95).
Is the Dutch Defense: Bladel Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +1.04: white is clearly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Dutch Defense: Bladel Variation?
A84. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).