English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense: Plans and Traps

Key ideas for both sides

White

Fianchetto with g3 and Bg2. The bishop presses the long diagonal toward b7, a key weakness after ...f5.
Prepare e4 with Nc3 and d3. When e4 lands, the f5 pawn is challenged and lines open.
Consider d4 and Nh3 heading to f4 if Black chooses a Stonewall with ...e6 and ...d5.
Second-move gambits with e4 or g4 exist, but the engine prefers steady development with Nf3 or d4.

Black

Develop with ...Nf6 and ...e6, aiming for a Classical or Stonewall Dutch.
...g6 and a fianchetto to g7 gives a Leningrad setup with play on the dark squares.
After 2.Nc3, the engine suggests ...e5, building a broad center with the f5 pawn.
...c6 and ...d5 fix the center and blunt White's light-squared bishop.

Plans and pawn structure

White wants space and pressure on light squares: g3, Bg2, Nf3, short castling and a timely e4 or d4. Black builds a wall on e6 and f5 or a Leningrad setup and looks for kingside play with ...g5 or a queen lift toward h5 after castling. Because White has not played d4, Black's ...e5 push is always an option and keeps the center fluid.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.57: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

+0.57 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 e6 4.Bg2 c6
+0.50 2.d4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 c6
+0.34 2.Nc3 e5 3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,622 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.9%.

under 120061.2%

1200–159951.3%

1600–199952.0%

2000 and up51.1%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

Anglo-Dutch Defense, Hickmann Gambit2.e4 · rare
Wade Gambit2.g4 · rare
Anglo-Dutch Variation, Chabanon Gambit2.Nf3 · rare
Porcupine Variation2.Nc3 · rare

How to play against it

As White, do not commit to d4 too early if you dislike Dutch structures. Instead, Nc3, g3 and e4 test the f5 pawn. As Black, do not neglect the king; the e8-h5 diagonal and the h1-a8 diagonal both matter, so castle short quickly.

Questions

What are the moves of the English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense?

The English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense starts 1.c4 f5. Its ECO code is A10.

Is the English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.57 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 1,622 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.9%. Good for Dutch players who want to avoid White's anti-Dutch lines, but it requires knowing several setups.

What is the main idea of the English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense?

Black plays a Dutch against the English, fighting for e4 with the f-pawn. White aims for g3, Bg2 and an e4 break, while Black chooses between Stonewall, Classical or Leningrad formations.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nf3, with d4 and Nc3 close behind. 2.Nf3 develops and keeps flexible options for d4 or e4 later.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.

English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense