Tree path 11 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Dutch Defense › Dutch Defense › Normal Variation › Dutch Defense: Fianchetto Variation › Dutch Defense: Classical Variation › Dutch Defense: Classical Variation › Dutch Defense: Classical Variation › Dutch Defense: Classical Variation › Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation › Winter Variation
A97

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

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Overview

Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, Winter Variation is a variation within the Flank Openings family, indexed as ECO A97.

The Flank Openings group covers flank openings — systems that delay the central pawn break and instead develop pieces and pawns on the wings.

The line arises from 15 plies — specifically the moves 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.

It is a variation of Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation, which itself descends from the root opening Queen's Pawn Game.

Step through the moves on the interactive board below, review the live Lichess statistics, or play this position against Stockfish at one of six difficulty levels.

ECO code
A97
Group
Flank Openings (A)
Plies
15
Parent
Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

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

MovesGamesW / D / B
Ne44,983
Qg63,990
Qh52,497
Nbd71,555
Nc61,383
Bd81,038
h6458
c6263

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:04:00

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