ECO A86 · Dutch Defense

Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 g6

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

4. Bg2+0.66

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation (A86), reached after 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 g6, Stockfish 18 recommends 4. Bg2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.66).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.664. Bg2 d6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. O-O Nc6 7. d5 Ne5 8. Nxe5 dxe5
  2. +0.624. Nc3 Bg7 5. Bg2 d6 6. Nf3 a5 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 Nc6
  3. +0.604. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3 a5 8. Re1 Nc6

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation?
After 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 g6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4. Bg2 for White, continuing d6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. O-O Nc6 7. d5 Ne5 8. Nxe5 dxe5. White is slightly better (+0.66). The next best moves are 4. Nc3 (+0.62) and 4. Nf3 (+0.60).
Is the Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.66: 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: Leningrad Variation?
A86. 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+).