Dutch Defense Alapin Variation Anti Stonewall Variation

Dutch Defense

Definition

The Dutch Defense is a chess opening that begins with the moves 1.d4 f5. Black immediately contests the e4–square with a flank pawn, creating an asymmetrical pawn structure and signaling aggressive intentions on the kingside.

Typical Move-Orders

Although the first move is fixed, the Dutch splits quickly into several systems:

• Classical (2…e6 & …d6/…Be7): 1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.Nf3 Be7
• Stonewall (…d5, …e6, …f5, …c6): 1.d4 f5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 d5
• Leningrad (…g6, …Bg7, …d6): 1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.0-0 d6
• Rare & Gambit Lines: Staunton Gambit (2.e4), Raphael, Hopton, etc.

Strategic Themes

• Kingside Initiative: Black often seeks piece play around …f4, …g5 or a rook lift (…Rf6–h6).
• Control of e4: The pawn on f5 both restrains White’s e2-e4 break and prepares …e5 for Black.
• Imbalance: By weakening the e6 & g6 squares, Black accepts structural risk in exchange for active prospects.
• Center vs. Flank: White typically answers with central pressure (c4, Nc3, Qb3) or a fianchetto (g3, Bg2) to undermine f5.

Historical Notes

The name honors 18th-century Dutch theoretician Elias Stein, whose 1789 treatise recommended 1…f5 as the best reply to 1.d4. It took another century, however, before the opening reached top-level play. World Champions Alekhine and Botvinnik occasionally adopted it, while the Leningrad System became a favorite weapon of Soviet grandmasters such as Sosonko and V. Malaniuk. In modern times it has appeared in the repertoires of Hikaru Nakamura and Alexander Grischuk—especially in rapid and blitz.

Illustrative Mini-Game

Short–Tiviakov, Wijk aan Zee 2005, shows the typical kingside thrust:

Interesting Facts

• Because 1…f5 weakens Black’s own king, the Dutch rarely ends in quick draws; database statistics show one of the lowest draw percentages among 1.d4 openings.
• In correspondence chess, engines have revived the Dutch by demonstrating resilient defensive resources in sharp Leningrad lines.
• In 1997, Garry Kasparov used the Dutch (albeit the Leningrad) against Deep Blue in game 6—an illustration of its fighting character at the highest possible “human-computer” level.

Alapin Variation (Dutch Defense)

Definition

The Alapin Variation of the Dutch is defined by the early queen development 1.d4 f5 2.Qd3. Named after Russian master Semyon Alapin, it aims to support an immediate e2-e4 break while eyeing h7 and controlling the g6 square.

Key Ideas for White

• Rapid e4: By over-protecting the pawn on d4 and adding a fourth attacker to e4, White can strike in the center with 3.e4, often reaching positions akin to a reversed Dutch.
• Pressure on h7: The queen on d3 spots tactical chances like Qxf5 or Qxh7+, deterring Black from careless kingside development.
• Flexible Piece Placement: White can follow with g3/Bg2 or Nc3/Bg5 depending on Black’s reply.

Plans for Black

Black must decide how to blunt the queen’s influence:

1. 2…d5: Occupy the center, block the queen’s diagonal, and transpose to a Stonewall-type structure.
2. 2…Nf6 3.Nc3 d5: Develop naturally and prepare …c5 to undermine White’s center.
3. 2…g6: Enter a Leningrad set-up, counting on …Bg7 to challenge Qd3 indirectly.

Sample Line

White’s queen still restrains …c5, while Black keeps the structure solid and prepares …Ba6.

Historical & Practical Significance

• The variation was occasionally tried by Alapin himself in the late 1800s, but remained a curiosity until revived by English GM Michael Adams in the 1990s.
• Modern engines indicate that 2.Qd3 is objectively sound, scoring above 55 % for White in master practice, yet it remains rare and can surprise a well-prepared Dutch specialist.

Notable Encounter

Adams – van Wely, Tilburg 1998 featured 1.d4 f5 2.Qd3 d5 3.Bf4 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.c4, culminating in a positional squeeze that Adams converted in the endgame.

Fun Facts

• The queen move violates classical principles, yet fits the “hyper-modern” idea of restraining the opponent before occupying the center.
• Because the Dutch is coded A80–A99 in ECO, 1.d4 f5 2.Qd3 is specifically catalogued as A81.

Anti-Stonewall Variation

Definition

The Anti-Stonewall Variation is a White system designed to neutralize Black’s Stonewall set-up (…f5, …e6, …d5, …c6) in the Dutch. A common modern move-order is 1.d4 f5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 d5 5.Bf4, immediately exchanging or pressuring the key e5-square and targeting Black’s vulnerable light-squares.

Main Ideas for White

• Trade the “bad” bishop: By playing Bf4 (or sometimes Bg5), White can exchange the dark-squared bishop, leaving Black with chronic weakness on dark squares.
• e2-e3 and cxd5: A timely capture on d5 undermines the Stonewall chain, while e3-e4 or cxd5 prepare breaks on the light squares.
• Pressure on e5: Knights often occupy e5 and c5, exploiting Black’s lack of dark-square control.
• Queenside Expansion: a3, b4 and Rc1 can stretch Black’s rigid pawn structure.

Typical Move-Order (ECO A84)

The resulting position highlights a harmonious White set-up: both bishops are active, the knight on e4 is fleeting, and breaks with f3 or b4 lie in wait.

Plans for Black

• …Bd6 & …Qe7: Challenge the Bf4 bishop and prepare …Nd7-f6 or …g5.
• Minor-Piece Maneuvers: Transfer the c6-knight to e4 or h5 to create kingside activity.
• Timely …c5: The classic Stonewall lever that can equalize if played before White is fully mobilized.

Historical Development

GM Larry Christiansen popularized the Anti-Stonewall in the 1980s with consistent success, inspiring analytical coverage in Jonathan Speelman’s books. With engines highlighting Black’s dark-square problems, the line has become the principal challenge to Stonewall players.

Model Game

Carlsen – Giri, Wijk aan Zee 2011 followed the Anti-Stonewall script and ended in a smooth positional win for White after 1.d4 f5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 d5 5.Bf4 c6 6.e3 Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0 Ne4 9.Qc2 g5 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.Nd2 Nd7 12.f3 Nxd2 13.Qxd2, when Black’s weakened kingside proved decisive.

Interesting Tidbits

• The bishop move 5.Bf4 echoes the classical plan against the Queen’s Gambit Declined and highlights the interconnectedness of opening ideas across different defenses.
• Because the Stonewall structure is so rigid, many Dutch specialists now delay …d5 to keep the option of a flexible Leningrad or Classical formation—an indirect tribute to the Anti-Stonewall’s effectiveness.
• The variation enjoys one of the highest performance rates for White in the 1.d4 f5 complex, hovering around 60 % in master databases.