ECO A84 · Dutch Defense

Dutch Defense: Normal Variation

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6

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

3. g3+0.55

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Dutch Defense: Normal Variation (A84), reached after 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. g3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.55).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.553. g3 e6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Bg2 c6 7. O-O O-O
  2. +0.493. Nf3 e6 4. g3 d5 5. Nc3 c6 6. Bf4 dxc4 7. Ne5 Nbd7
  3. +0.433. Nc3 e6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bd2 d5 6. Bg2 O-O 7. Qb3 Nc6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Dutch Defense: Normal Variation?
After 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. g3 for White, continuing e6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Nc3 Be7 6. Bg2 c6 7. O-O O-O. White is slightly better (+0.55). The next best moves are 3. Nf3 (+0.49) and 3. Nc3 (+0.43).
Is the Dutch Defense: Normal Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.55: 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: Normal 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+).