Dutch Defense: Classical Variation 4. Bg2 Be7
Also known as Classical Dutch
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Statistics from Lichess
143,512 games: White 51.6% / Draw 6.0% / Black 42.4%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 62,19962K | ||
| 49,87050K | ||
| Blackburne Attack | 16,66717K | |
| 2,8762,876 | ||
| 2,6382,638 | ||
| 2,0362,036 | ||
| 2,0002,000 | ||
| 1,2331,233 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.54 White is slightly better
Best play: 5. Nf3 d5 6. Qc2 c6 7. O-O Ne4 8. Nc3 Nd7 9. Bf4 O-O
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Dutch Defense: Classical Variation (ECO A91, Flank Openings) is a variation of the Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, reached after 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 (4 moves).
In 143,512 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 51.6%, Black 42.4% and 6.0% were drawn. White's most played move here is 5. Nf3, in 43% of those games.
It branches into 2 named variations; the most played is Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Blackburne Attack. In all, 16 named lines continue from it.
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How to answer 4…Be7
5. Nh3 (Blackburne Attack) scores best for White: 56.9%, with White winning 54.0% and Black 40.2% of 17K games. The most played, 5. Nf3, scores 55.0% in 62K games, and 5. Nc3 scores lowest: 54.0%. Stockfish's first choice is 5. Nf3.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Variations (2)
All 16 named lines that continue from here
- A92 Classical Variation 5 moves
- A91 Blackburne Attack 5 moves
- A92 Dutch Defense: Alekhine Variation 6 moves
- A96 Classical Variation 6 moves
- A92 Dutch Defense: Stonewall Variation 6 moves
- A96 Buenos Aires Variation 7 moves
- A96 Huisl Variation 7 moves
- A97 Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation 7 moves
- A92 Stonewall Variation 7 moves
- A93 Botvinnik Variation 7 moves
- A98 Alatortsev-Lisitsyn Line 8 moves
- A99 Modern Main Line 8 moves
- A97 Winter Variation 8 moves
- A95 Stonewall Variation 7 moves
- A94 Dutch Defense: Stonewall Variation 8 moves
- A95 Chekhover Variation 9 moves
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Dutch Defense: Classical Variation (A91)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/dutch-defense-classical-variation-3