Dutch Defense · A81

Leningrad, Basman System

1. d4 f5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O Nh6

White's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal and Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal. The g7 fianchetto joins ...f5: Black plays for ...e5 in one go and a middlegame where both wings burn.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... f5 Fights for e4 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Dutch Defense.
• 2. g3 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g2. Theory calls this the Fianchetto Attack.
• 2... c6 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn.

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