Chessy
The English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense with 2.Nf3 — Playing as Black
The Anglo-Dutch Defense is a feisty choice against the English Opening. By playing 1.c4 f5 2.Nf3 e6, you immediately declare that you're not here for a quiet positional grind — you want a complex fight on your own terms. Statistically, Black scores a very respectable 45.6% win rate across over 27,000 games, with White winning 50.4% and draws at 3.9%. The engine gives +0.62, a small edge for White, meaning you are slightly worse but still in the game with active, imbalanced chances. Let's dig into what makes this position tick and how to navigate the critical early decisions.
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The Anglo-Dutch is all about asymmetry. White's first move 1.c4 stakes a claim to the centre from a distance, while your 1...f5 seizes space on the kingside and sets up a Dutch-style stonewall or Leningrad structure. With 2...e6 you keep your options open — you can develop your light-squared bishop to d6 or b4 after ...d6 or ...d5, and you keep the e7-square free for a bishop or knight. The key tension is in the centre: White will almost always try to open lines with d2-d4, while you want to keep things fluid, possibly meeting d4 with ...d6 or ...b6 to maintain your grip on e4 and the dark squares. The engine's recommended response g3 shows that White wants to fianchetto the king's bishop and control the h1-a8 diagonal, putting pressure on your f5-pawn and the e4 outpost.
The Most Popular Move: 3.d4
In the database, 3.d4 is the most common move, appearing in over 8,500 games. White immediately challenges you to define the central structure. After 3.d4, Black's most typical plans involve ...d6 (keeping the pawn chain flexible) or ...b6 to fianchetto the queen's bishop and pressure the d4-pawn. White's scoring here is just 48.7%, the second-lowest of any major option — this suggests that Black is doing well against the direct approach. Your job is to avoid being steamrolled in the centre; develop pieces, don't rush to capture on d4, and target White's d-pawn as a potential weakness once it advances. The 2.Nf3 move means White hasn't committed the queen's knight yet, so you should watch for ideas like Nc3-e4 or g3-Bg2 aiming at your f5-pawn.
Why White Plays 3.g3 — And How to Meet It
The engine's top choice, 3.g3, is also the most dangerous for you statistically: White scores 56.0% in this line, over 5,500 games. White intends Bg2, O-O, and possibly d4, preparing a kingside fianchetto that pressures the f5-pawn and eyes the centre. Your resources are solid: develop naturally with ...Be7 and ...Nf6, and consider meeting d4 with ...d5, turning the game into a reversed Dutch with colours reversed. That position is playable but demanding — you need to watch for White's plan of e2-e4, breaking open the centre while your king is still in the middle. The fact that 3.g3 scores so well tells you to be careful and precise if your opponent chooses this setup. Keep your king safe and don't let White's bishops dominate the long diagonals.
The Numbers That Matter
Among the six most-played replies, three stand out for Black's chances: 3.d4 (White scores 48.7%), 3.e3 (48.6%), and 3.Nc3 (49.2%). In all of these, Black scores over 45% — excellent for an opening where you're playing for a win with Black. The worst line statistically is 3.b3 (White scores 52.5%), a subtle move that preserves the option of Bb2 without committing a pawn to the centre. Against 3.b3, you should consider an early ...d5 or ...Bb4 to disrupt White's smooth development. Across all lines, the engine evaluation of +0.62 confirms you are slightly worse but still in a fully playable position. The Anglo-Dutch is a weapon for fighters who trust their understanding of unbalanced positions more than memorising long theory.
Results across 27,264 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| d4 | 8,521 | 48.7% |
| Nc3 | 7,485 | 49.2% |
| g3 | 5,515 | 56.0% |
| e3 | 2,416 | 48.6% |
| d3 | 1,333 | 50.4% |
| b3 | 1,012 | 52.5% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Anglo-Dutch Defense any good for Black?
Yes, it's perfectly playable. Across over 27,000 games Black wins 45.6% of the time, with White at 50.4% and very few draws (3.9%). The engine gives +0.62, a small edge for White, so you are slightly worse but the position is rich in winning chances for both sides.
What's the best move for White against the Anglo-Dutch with Nf3?
The engine recommends 3.g3, intending Bg2 and a kingside fianchetto. Statistically, 3.g3 is also White's most successful move, scoring 56.0% across 5,515 games. The most popular move is 3.d4, where White scores just 48.7%, giving Black excellent practical chances.
How should Black respond to 3.d4 in the Anglo-Dutch?
After 3.d4, Black has several good setups. Common moves include ...d6, ...b6, or even ...Bb4+. The key idea is not to let White's centre become a steamroller — develop your pieces, keep the tension, and target the d4-pawn once it becomes a target. Black scores well in this line.
What is the main idea behind 2...e6 in the Anglo-Dutch?
Playing 2...e6 keeps your options open. You can develop the light-squared bishop to d6 or b4, keep the e7-square for a bishop or knight, and prepare ...d6 or ...d5. It's a flexible move that doesn't commit to a specific setup, unlike 2...d6 which often leads to a Leningrad Dutch structure.