Caissa Codex
A99

Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Modern Main Line

Chess diagram: Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Modern Main Line after 8. b3

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Statistics from Lichess

9,565 games: White 53.7% / Draw 5.5% / Black 40.8%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
2,0802,080
1,6051,605
1,3021,302
1,2371,237
908908
860860
490490
400400

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

Engine evaluation

+0.67 White is slightly better

Best play: 8... Ne4 9. Nxe4 fxe4 10. Nd2 d5 11. f3 e3 12. Nb1 c5 13. Bxe3

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, Modern Main Line (ECO A99, 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. b3 (8 moves).

In 9,565 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 53.7%, Black 40.8% and 5.5% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 8…Qh5, in 22% of those games.

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How to play against the Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Modern Main Line

8…Qg6 scores best for Black: 48.4%, with Black winning 45.5% and White 48.8% of 490 games. The most played, 8…Qh5, scores 44.8% in 2,080 games, and 8…Bd8 scores lowest: 40.6%. Stockfish's first choice is 8…Ne4.

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. b3, 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, Modern Main Line (A99)”. Lichess data as of 1 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/dutch-defense-classical-variation-ilyin-zhenevsky-variation-modern-main-line

https://chesscodex.org/openings/dutch-defense-classical-variation-ilyin-zhenevsky-variation-modern-main-line