Openings Other answers to 1.d4

Dutch Defense: Leningrad, Stonewall, Traps and Stats by Rating

1...f5 grabs e4 and prepares a kingside attack. It weakens Black’s king a little, so White has several sharp anti-Dutch tries, but it gives unbalanced games from move one.

For Black1.d4 f5Seen in 0.5% of rated games

Lichess rating

A80Dutch Defense

Games from this position (1600–1999): 42k

Played	Games	White · Draw · Black
34%	14k	49%47%
17%	7,101	49%46%
15%	6,370	49%46%
10%	4,004	51%45%
7%	3,123	49%47%
5%	1,977	55%40%
4%	1,771	57%39%
2%	976	52%43%
1%	518	47%47%
1%	480	48%46%
1%	429	58%39%
0.5%	211	57%39%

Practice as White Practice as Black

Plans for both sides

White

g3, Bg2, Nf3, O-O and c4 is the main setup against all Dutch systems.
Anti-Dutch: 2.Bg5, 2.Nc3 and the Staunton Gambit 2.e4 punish careless play.
The e4 break is your best way to open Black’s king.

Black

Leningrad (...g6, ...Bg7), Stonewall (...e6, ...d5, ...c6) or Classical (...e6, ...Be7).
Do not push ...g5 and ...h5 without a reason; the e8–h5 diagonal is weak.
Your attack comes with ...Qe8–h5, ...Ne4 and ...g5 at the right moment.

Dutch Defense at each rating

How often the position after 1.d4 f5 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.

Rating	Games (Share of games)	White · Draw · Black	Top next move
<1200	8,2970.3%	52%44%	2.Bf426%
1200–1599	24k0.4%	50%46%	2.c426%
1600–1999	42k0.7%	50%46%	2.c434%
2000+	15k0.7%	50%44%	2.c430%
All	89k0.5%	50%45%	2.c429%

What usually comes next

The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.

Main variations

A King’s Indian-style setup with ...f5. Black plays ...Qe8 and ...e5.
99 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 56%, 5% were drawn, Black won 39%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 d6
Black builds a pawn wall on c6, d5, e6 and f5 and puts a knight on e4.
176 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 10% were drawn, Black won 42%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2 d5 5.Nf3 c6
White gives a pawn for quick development against the weakened kingside.
1,190 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 53%, 7% were drawn, Black won 40%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5
White prevents ...Nf6 setups. Black answers 2...h6 or 2...g6.
3,634 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 56%, 4% were drawn, Black won 40%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 f5 2.Bg5

Common traps

2.Bg5 and the h5 diagonal

Chasing the bishop with ...h6, ...g5, ...f4 and ...h5 leaves the e8–h5 diagonal wide open. After 6.Bd3 Rh6?? 7.Qxh5+! Rxh5 8.Bg6 is mate.

Fewer than 6 games in our data reached the end of this line.

Show on the board: 1.d4 f5 2.Bg5 h6 3.Bh4 g5 4.Bg3 f4 5.e3 h5 6.Bd3 Rh6 7.Qxh5+ Rxh5 8.Bg6#(ends in mate)

At club level

Below 2000, Dutch players need to watch the e8–h5 diagonal from move two. The trap below is the classic example after 2.Bg5.

Practice it

The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.

Practice as Black Practice as White

Related openings

Horwitz Defense
1.d4 e6
402k games
Englund Gambit
1.d4 e5
286k games
Mikenas Defense (1...Nc6)
1.d4 Nc6
46k games