Caissa Codex
A97

Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Winter Variation

Chess diagram: Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Winter Variation after 8. Re1

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Statistics from Lichess

17,281 games: White 51.5% / Draw 5.5% / Black 43.0%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
4,9834,983
3,9903,990
2,4972,497
1,5551,555
1,3831,383
1,0381,038
458458
263263

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 28, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.69 White is slightly better

Best play: 8... Nc6 9. e4 fxe4 10. Nxe4 e5 11. d5 Nd8 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Nd2

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, Winter Variation (ECO A97, 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. Re1 (8 moves).

In 17,281 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 51.5%, Black 43.0% and 5.5% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 8…Ne4, in 29% of those games.

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How to play against the Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Winter Variation

8…Qg6 scores best for Black: 53.5%, with Black winning 49.9% and White 42.8% of 3,990 games. The most played, 8…Ne4, scores 48.8% in 4,983 games, and 8…Bd8 scores lowest: 35.1%. Stockfish's first choice is 8…Nc6.

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. Re1, 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, Winter Variation (A97)”. Lichess data as of 28 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/dutch-defense-classical-variation-ilyin-zhenevsky-variation-winter-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/dutch-defense-classical-variation-ilyin-zhenevsky-variation-winter-variation