Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 g6
What Is The Leningrad Variation?
The Leningrad Variation crosses the Dutch with the King's Indian: Black follows 1...f5 with g6 and Bg7 and plays for the e5 break. Everything in Black's setup serves one goal, forcing e5 and turning the f-pawn into the spearhead of a kingside attack. The fianchettoed bishop rakes the long diagonal and the f5 pawn controls e4.
White fianchettoes too, grabs space with c4 and Nc3, and targets what f5 left behind: the e6 square and the a2-g8 diagonal. Games hinge on the timing of that break. Prepare it properly and Black gets a full-board initiative, rush it and dxe5 leaves a permanent hole on e6 for a white knight. Black's queen goes to e8 to support the push, and the c8 bishop stays passive, the price of the setup.
How Do You Play Against The Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation?
There is no usable record for this exact position, so this is plans rather than percentages. Black has combined ...f5 with a kingside fianchetto, which is the most ambitious Dutch setup and the one with the loosest king.
The bishop on g7 and the pawn on f5 both want the centre opened, so the reply is to keep it closed and play where Black is weakest. The e6 and g6 squares are permanently soft once ...f5 and ...g6 are both committed, so aim pieces there rather than trading into an open game. c4, Nc3 and a timely d5 fix the centre and leave Black's bishop staring at a wall of your pawns.
The Named Lines Of The Leningrad Variation
| Line | Moves |
|---|---|
| Carlsbad Variation | 1.d4 f5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nh3 |
| Warsaw Variation | 1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 d6 7.Nc3 c6 |
| Matulovic Variation | 1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 d6 7.Nc3 Nc6 |