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Zukertort Opening: Dutch Variation — play it as Black
After 1.Nf3 f5, White is to move and the position is already asking a practical question: will you steer the game into a Dutch-style fight, or let White choose a calm setup? This lesson is built around the drill below, where you play Black and have to answer the most common continuations accurately. The key is simple: know what the engine prefers here, understand which White moves appear most often, and be ready for a middlegame where both sides still have plenty of play.
Play the Zukertort Opening: Dutch Variation against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill now and test your move choice as Black. Create a free account to keep practising the positions that matter most.
Create a free account →What the position says about the opening
Stockfish rates this +0.52, a small edge for White. That means you are slightly worse here.
The database picture is still very playable: across 704,214 games at this exact position, White wins 50.1%, draws 3.8%, and Black wins 46.1%. So this is not a disaster, but you do need to handle the early move order with care.
For Black, the opening idea is to accept an active, slightly unbalanced fight rather than aim for perfect symmetry. Your drill is about staying solid while keeping your position useful and flexible.
The move the engine wants
The engine's best move here is c4, and the listed continuation is c4 Nf6 g3 e6.
That tells you something important: the position is not about grabbing space blindly, but about choosing a move that fits the position and keeps your development on track. In practical terms, you want to avoid drifting into a passive structure when you can make a more active choice.
Use the drill to feel how this move changes the game shape. The later middlegame will often depend on whether you can keep your pieces coordinated and your kingside structure under control.
What White usually tries
The most-played continuations show what you are most likely to face in practice:
- d4 — 248,666 games, White scores 50.1%
- g3 — 123,764 games, White scores 51.0%
- Nc3 — 68,629 games, White scores 48.6%
- c4 — 63,956 games, White scores 50.6%
- d3 — 48,669 games, White scores 51.3%
- e3 — 46,985 games, White scores 47.6%
This is useful because it tells you where your study time should go. You do not need to memorise everything; you need to be comfortable against the moves that appear most often and understand the kind of position each one tends to lead to.
A good training approach is to repeat the drill until these moves stop feeling unfamiliar.
How to handle the practical test
Against this opening, the main challenge is not one hidden tactical trick. It is making your early decisions without giving White an easy comfort zone.
Keep these habits in mind:
- Develop naturally and do not waste time.
- Watch whether White is aiming for a direct central build-up or a more flexible setup.
- Be ready to answer the common continuations in the drill instead of guessing.
- Aim for piece activity, not just survival.
Because the evaluation is only a small edge for White, accurate play matters. If you stay alert in the opening, you can still reach a playable middlegame.
Results across 704,214 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| d4 | 248,666 | 50.1% |
| g3 | 123,764 | 51.0% |
| Nc3 | 68,629 | 48.6% |
| c4 | 63,956 | 50.6% |
| d3 | 48,669 | 51.3% |
| e3 | 46,985 | 47.6% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Zukertort Opening: Dutch Variation good for Black?
It is playable, but the engine gives +0.52, which is a small edge for White. You are slightly worse, so the opening works best if you are ready to handle White’s most common replies accurately.
What is the best move here for Black?
The engine’s best move is c4. The listed continuation is c4 Nf6 g3 e6, which shows the kind of development the engine prefers in this position.
What does the database say about this position?
Across 704,214 games at this exact position, White wins 50.1%, draws 3.8%, and Black wins 46.1%. That means the position is playable, but White has the better results overall.
Which White moves should I expect most often?
The most-played continuations are d4, g3, Nc3, c4, d3, and e3. The most frequent is d4 with 248,666 games, so that is a move you should be especially ready for in the drill.
How many games feature the Zukertort Opening: Dutch Variation?
Over 704K Lichess games have reached the Zukertort Opening: Dutch Variation position. White wins 50.1%, Black wins 46.1%, with 3.8% draws — based on real rated games.