Caissa Codex
A98

Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Alatortsev-Lisitsyn Line

Chess diagram: Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Alatortsev-Lisitsyn Line after 8. Qc2

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Statistics from Lichess

12,705 games: White 48.8% / Draw 5.6% / Black 45.6%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
4,0294,029
2,4842,484
2,1102,110
1,1841,184
969969
655655
324324
268268

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 1, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.58 White is slightly better

Best play: 8... a5 9. a3 Bd8 10. e4 fxe4 11. Nxe4 Nc6 12. Bd2 Qg6 13. Nxf6+

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Alatortsev-Lisitsyn Line (ECO A98, Flank Openings) is a variation of the Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky 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 Qe8 8. Qc2 (8 moves).

In 12,705 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.8%, Black 45.6% and 5.6% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 8…Qh5, in 32% of those games.

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How to play against the Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Alatortsev-Lisitsyn Line

8…Qg6 scores best for Black: 56.7%, with Black winning 53.8% and White 40.5% of 2,110 games. The most played, 8…Qh5, scores 52.9% in 4,029 games, and 8…Nbd7 scores lowest: 38.6%. Stockfish's first choice is 8…a5.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 8. Qc2, the position after Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Alatortsev-Lisitsyn Line (A98)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/dutch-defense-classical-variation-ilyin-zhenevsky-variation-alatortsev-lisitsyn-line

https://chesscodex.org/openings/dutch-defense-classical-variation-ilyin-zhenevsky-variation-alatortsev-lisitsyn-line