Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...d5/2. c4/2...c6/3. Nf3/3...Nf6/4. Nc3/4...dxc4/5. a4/5...Bf5/6. e3/6...e6/7. Bxc4/7...Bb4/8. O-O/8...O-O/9. Qe2

Dutch Variation D19 Dutch Variation Euwe Variation 9. Qe2 White is threatening to play 10. e4 with a tempo on the bishop. If Black allows this, they will have to fend off White's king-side attack, which comes in very quickly. Black allows e4 /9...Nbd7/ is considered to be the main line. Black allows White to play e4 and hopes to fend off White's attack. The knight can serve as a potential defender by repositioning to f8. Black prevents e4 Black has many options for preventing e4. The most popular being /9...Bg6/. After /9...Bg6/ Black prevents e4 tactically. By retreating the bishop, 10. e4? is no longer played with tempo and in response Black plays 10...Bxc3! 11. bxc3 Nxe4 -- and White doesn't have the option of preventing Black from castling with Ba3 because Black is already castled. Because e4 isn't made possible, White generally chooses to try and capture the bishop with 10. Ne5. A more direct way to prevent e4 is by occupying the square with a piece instead: /9...Ne4/ blocks White's pawn and initiates a trade of pieces: 10. Bd3 and 10. Nxe4 are common. Black does however need to be prepared for the rare 10. g4! the Sämisch variation, where White is able to quickly storm Black's king with pawns. Another way for Black to achieve this goal is by /9...Bg4/, pinning and potentially capturing the f3 knight which is protecting d4. If White continues with their plan they will quickly find themselves down a pawn after 10. e4? Bxf3 11. gxf3 Qxd4 -. Theory table 9. ... Nbd7 10. e4 Bg6 11. Bd3 Bh5 12. e5 Nd5 + 9. ... Bg6 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Nxg6 hxg6 + Sämisch variation 9. ... Ne4 10. g4 Bg6 11. Ne5 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Bxc3 9. ... Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Nbd7 12. Rd1 References See also