Dutch Defense · A94

Stonewall Variation, after 7. b3, through 8. Ba3

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. b3 c6 8. Ba3

White's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal. ...d5, ...e6 and ...f5 build the wall: an iron grip on e4, a permanent hole on e5, and a straightforward kingside attack plan.

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. c4 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn.
• 2... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4.

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