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Dutch Defense is a chess opening that arises after 1.d4 f5. It is classified A80 in the ECO system, and the position after these moves has white to move. The Dutch Defense answers 1.d4 with 1...f5, staking a claim to e4 and signalling kingside ambitions from the first move. It is the most aggressive sound reply to the queen's pawn, at the cost of slightly weakening the king's position.
This position can also be reached by another move order, including 1.d4 f5 2.c4.
Three distinct systems share the move order: the Stonewall, where Black builds a fixed pawn wall and attacks; the Leningrad, which combines f5 with a kingside fianchetto; and the Classical, a more restrained setup. Each produces genuinely different middlegames.
Attacking players who want to dictate the character of the game with Black rather than react to White's choice.
Each of these is a named opening reached by playing on from 1.d4 f5. Open any of them to load the position on the board.