ECO A85 · Dutch Defense

Dutch Defense: Queen's Knight Variation

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3

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

3… e6+0.45

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Dutch Defense: Queen's Knight Variation (A85), reached after 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… e6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.45).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.453… e6 4. g3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bb4 6. Bd2 d5 7. Bg2 dxc4 8. O-O
  2. +0.633… d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. b4
  3. +0.663… a5 4. Bg5 e6 5. e3 Be7 6. Bd3 d6 7. a3 h6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Dutch Defense: Queen's Knight Variation?
After 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… e6 for Black, continuing 4. g3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bb4 6. Bd2 d5 7. Bg2 dxc4 8. O-O. White is slightly better (+0.45). The next best moves are 3… d6 (+0.63) and 3… a5 (+0.66).
Is the Dutch Defense: Queen's Knight Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.45: 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: Queen's Knight Variation?
A85. 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+).