[Event "The Dutch and Anti-Dutch Systems: The Stonewall"] [Site "https://lichess.org/study/jsnwK0wI/1q5ftn6I"] [Result "*"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A85"] [Opening "Dutch Defense: Queen's Knight Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/DM_CaptainObvious"] [UTCDate "2016.08.03"] [UTCTime "18:38:09"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/jsnwK0wI/1q5ftn6I"] [Orientation "black"] 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 { Here we will look at some of the main ideas of the Stonewall. The Stonewall can be reached in several ways. White is going to be fighting for the e5 square and Black will be fighting for the e4 square. } 3. Nc3 { White will have many different options, but generally plays a combination of d4, g3, Bg2, Nc3, c4, Nf3, O-O, and Bg5 or Bf4 } 3... e6 { Black meanwhile wants to play the moves f5, Nf6, e6, d5, c6, Bd6, Nbd7, and O-O. } 4. g3 d5 5. Bg2 c6 { Black has achieved his "Stonewall" of Pawns on f5, e6, d5, and c6. The dark square bishop is a very good piece for Black, and the light square bishop is quite weak. } 6. Nf3 Bd6 { Be mindful of the differences in Bd6 versus Be7. If you are new to the Dutch-Stonewall, I recommend Bd6 until you get comfortable with resulting pawn structures. } (6... Be7 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qc2 (8. Ng5 { This idea is present in both Be7 and Bd6 positions. Here, in the Be7 line Black cannot play Qe7, so the somewhat less attractive Nf8 is required. } 8... Nf8 { This is not so bad though, as the Knight can soon find itself on g6, and is a defender of the key e5 square. } 9. Qc2 (9. b3 Ng6) 9... Ng6) 8... Ne4 9. b3 O-O) 7. O-O Nbd7 { [%csl Ge6] } 8. Qc2 (8. Ng5 { You will see this from time to time, with white investing a tempo to attack e6. Stay calm, this is a welcome sight for black as the knight does not really belong on g5. White is ideally looking to take advantage of e5, and has removed a piece from controlling it. Black maintains his good structure and control on e4 (the critical square for Black) with the simply Qc2 } { [%csl Ge6][%cal Gg5e6,Gc8d7] } 8... Qe7) 8... Ne4 9. b3 (9. Nxe4 fxe4 { [%cal Gf8f2] } (9... dxe4? 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 $14) 10. Ng5 { An important continuation to note. Black now has the f-file, but white is stirring up some play. Do NOT play nf6 in this position, as it is a painful mistake. Qf6 is the needed idea. } 10... Qf6 (10... Nf6? 11. f3! exf3 12. Nxf3 $14 (12. Rxf3 $14) (12. exf3 h6?? { [%csl Gh6,Gg6][%cal Gc2g6,Gg6e8] } (12... O-O $14) 13. Qg6+)) 11. b3 O-O (11... h6 12. Nh3 O-O)) 9... O-O { So now what? There are several middle game plans for Black in positions like this. You could launch a g7-g5 pawn storm and attack white's King. In some lines, after Qe7 white might try to play c4-c5 closing down the bishop (back to b8) and creating breaks on the queen-side. This is fine, and black can dictate breaks with a timely b7-b6 and the like. Many players who find themselves against the Dutch-Stonewall will trade in the center, or take the knight on e4 at some point. } *