Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Alatortsev-Lisitsyn Line
1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. Qc2
8… a5+0.63
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Alatortsev-Lisitsyn Line (A98), reached after 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. Qc2, Stockfish 18 recommends 8… a5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.63).
Top engine moves
- +0.638… a5 9. b3 Nc6 10. Bb2 e5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Nd5 Bd8 13. e4
- +0.738… Bd7 9. b4 Nc6 10. b5 Na5 11. d5 a6 12. a4 Kh8 13. Ng5
- +0.748… Qh5 9. b4 Nc6 10. b5 Na5 11. c5 dxc5 12. Ba3 a6 13. Bxc5
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Alatortsev-Lisitsyn Line?
After 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3 Qe8 8. Qc2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8… a5 for Black, continuing 9. b3 Nc6 10. Bb2 e5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Nd5 Bd8 13. e4. White is slightly better (+0.63). The next best moves are 8… Bd7 (+0.73) and 8… Qh5 (+0.74).
Is the Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Alatortsev-Lisitsyn Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.63: white is slightly 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: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Alatortsev-Lisitsyn Line?
A98. 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+).