Chessy
How to play the English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense as Black
After 1.c4 f5, you are choosing a combative setup that asks White an immediate question. The position is already slightly in your opponent's favour, so your drill here is about staying accurate and not drifting into a passive game. The good news is that the position is still very playable if you know the main ideas and the most common replies. Use the board below to practise your first decisions and learn how to meet White's natural development.
Play the English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense against the engine
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Play the drill below and practise handling this position as Black. Create a free account to train the ideas until they feel automatic.
Create a free account →What this opening is asking you to do
The English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense is a direct way to answer 1.c4. By playing ...f5, you take space on the kingside and signal that you want an active game rather than a quiet setup. The trade-off is important: the position after 1.c4 f5 is not fully equal, and the engine shows that White has the better of it. That means your main task is practical defence and good piece development, not trying to force early tactics.
The engine's main continuation
Stockfish rates the position +0.62, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here. The engine's best move here is Nf3, and the continuation given is Nf3 e6 g3 d5. For you, that is a useful signpost: meet White's natural development with sound development of your own and keep the centre under control. If you can reach a stable middlegame without more concessions, you are doing your job well.
What the database says about White's choices
This exact position has appeared in 1,043,178 games in the Lichess database, so the opening is common enough that you should expect many different setups. The most played continuations are Nc3 (554,961 games, White scores 51.0%); d4 (159,232 games, White scores 50.1%); g3 (118,004 games, White scores 52.5%); e3 (88,506 games, White scores 49.8%); Nf3 (35,493 games, White scores 51.3%); d3 (33,393 games, White scores 47.8%). The numbers show that White usually does a little better overall, so your training focus should be on meeting flexible setups without creating extra weaknesses.
Practical priorities for Black
Against this kind of setup, simple chess matters most. Develop your pieces, watch the central squares, and be careful that the advance of the f-pawn does not leave your own king too exposed. White's most common ideas are flexible, so do not rush into a plan that only works against one move. In the drill, look for the move that keeps your position healthy and makes White prove an advantage move by move.
The position to know by heart
This opening is worth studying if you want an active defence and do not mind playing a position where White starts with a small plus. The key skill is to stay organised after 1.c4 f5 and answer White's development with calm, sensible moves. If you can reach the kind of structure suggested by the engine line, you will be in business: pieces developed, centre respected, and no extra damage done.
Results across 1,043,178 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nc3 | 554,961 | 51.0% |
| d4 | 159,232 | 50.1% |
| g3 | 118,004 | 52.5% |
| e3 | 88,506 | 49.8% |
| Nf3 | 35,493 | 51.3% |
| d3 | 33,393 | 47.8% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense good for Black?
It is playable, but the engine shows White with a small edge after 1.c4 f5. That means you should treat it as an active defence rather than a way to equalise automatically. Good development and careful handling are important.
What is the best move for White here?
The engine's best move here is Nf3. The continuation given is Nf3 e6 g3 d5, which is a useful guide to the kind of setup White is aiming for.
What does the database say about this position?
In 1,043,178 games at this exact position, White wins 50.7%, draws 3.8%, and Black wins 45.5%. That is a clear signal that White scores a bit better overall, so Black needs accurate play.
Which White replies should I expect most often?
The most played continuations are Nc3, d4, g3, e3, Nf3, and d3. They all lead to flexible positions, so your goal is to stay solid and develop naturally rather than memorising one narrow line.
How many games feature the English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense?
Over 1 million Lichess games have reached the English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense position. White wins 50.7%, Black wins 45.5%, with 3.8% draws — based on real rated games.