Chessy
How to Play Against the Dutch Defense
1.d4 f5 — the Dutch — signals Black's intention to control e4 and launch a kingside attack before you can. Stockfish rates this as +0.57 for White, and the data backs it up: White scores 50.2% across 10.4 million games. Meet it correctly below.
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Create a free account →What Black is trying to achieve
The Dutch is committal and aggressive: by pushing ...f5 on move one, Black claims the e4 square and plans a kingside assault, at the cost of a slightly weakened king position and a pawn structure that can't easily pivot. White gets a structural edge and faster development. Unlike quieter defenses, the Dutch forces both sides to play for results — draws are rare (3.7% in the dataset).
White's strongest tries
- 2.Bg5 — the most aggressive reply; pins the f6 square and scores a striking 56.6% for White, though the sample (279k games) is smaller than the others.
- 2.Nc3 — direct development, 50.9% across 936k games.
- 2.Bf4 — solid flank bishop development, 50.7% in 2.1 million games.
- 2.Nf3 — flexible, 50.0% in 1.5 million games; all four beat the overall average.
- 2.e3 — the most passive try, 48.3%; you surrender some initiative.
- Stockfish recommends 2.g3 (fianchetto), but it appears outside the top-6 list — quote only its engine endorsement, not a win rate.
Solid setup for most players
2.Nc3 or 2.Bf4 — both score above 50% in large samples and develop naturally toward a central setup. If you want the sharpest statistical edge, 2.Bg5 is the data standout at 56.6%, but be aware that's a smaller sample; the move aims to disrupt Black's knight-to-f6 plan immediately. Avoid 2.e3 — it's the only listed try that dips below 50%.
What the numbers say
The Dutch is one of the clearest cases in this dataset where White holds a genuine practical advantage: 50.2% overall, with individual lines ranging from 48.3% (e3) to 56.6% (Bg5). That range is wider than most openings. Stockfish's +0.57 is honest — bigger than the Sicilian, bigger than the Nimzo — and the scoreboard agrees. A prepared White player should welcome the Dutch.
Results across 10,440,324 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| c4 | 3,429,121 | 49.7% |
| Bf4 | 2,139,562 | 50.7% |
| Nf3 | 1,479,320 | 50.0% |
| e3 | 1,068,449 | 48.3% |
| Nc3 | 936,057 | 50.9% |
| Bg5 | 278,674 | 56.6% |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best response to the Dutch Defense?
By score, 2.Bg5 leads at 56.6% in 279k games, and Stockfish recommends 2.g3 (fianchetto). For a large-sample recommendation, 2.Nc3 (50.9%, 936k games) or 2.Bf4 (50.7%, 2.1M games) are both reliable and well-tested.
Is the Dutch Defense good for Black?
Honestly, the data says no at the club level: White scores 50.2% to Black's 46.1% across 10.4 million Lichess games. Stockfish evaluates it at +0.57 for White — larger than most d4 defenses.
Why does 2.Bg5 score so well against the Dutch?
It immediately targets Black's plan by pressuring f6 before the knight arrives, making it harder for Black to build the intended kingside structure. The 56.6% score is the highest of any top-6 response, though it's tested in fewer games (279k) than 2.Bf4 or 2.c4.
What should White avoid against the Dutch?
2.e3 is the weakest try in the data at 48.3% — the only response that drops below 50%. It surrenders the initiative without gaining any structural benefit.
How many games feature the Dutch Defense?
Over 10 million Lichess games have reached the Dutch Defense position. White wins 50.2%, Black wins 46.1%, with 3.7% draws — based on real rated games.