Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Buenos Aires Variation
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Statistics from Lichess
30,823 games: White 49.4% / Draw 6.2% / Black 44.4%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 7,3507,350 | ||
| 6,8176,817 | ||
| 6,6916,691 | ||
| 2,0672,067 | ||
| 1,7011,701 | ||
| 1,4821,482 | ||
| 783783 | ||
| 685685 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 4, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.72 White is better
Best play: 8. Bf4 Nh5 9. Bd2 Nf6 10. Qc2 d5 11. Rac1 c6 12. Bf4 Ne4
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Buenos Aires Variation (ECO A96, 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 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3 a5 (7 moves).
In 30,823 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 49.4%, Black 44.4% and 6.2% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. Re1, in 24% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to play against the Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Buenos Aires Variation
8. b3 scores best for White: 55.5%, with White winning 52.3% and Black 41.3% of 6,817 games. The most played, 8. Re1, scores 53.4% in 7,350 games, and 8. Qc2 scores lowest: 50.1%. Stockfish's first choice is 8. Bf4.
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
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Buenos Aires Variation (A96)”. Lichess data as of 4 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/dutch-defense-classical-variation-buenos-aires-variation