Caissa Codex
A86

Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation

Also known as Leningrad Dutch

Chess diagram: Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation after 3…g6

Type a move and press Enter: e4, Nf3, O-O, or from and to squares like g1f3 (e7e8q to promote). The board is also played with the mouse.

Play any move on the board to explore from there, or step through the line with ‹ › and the arrow keys.

Statistics from Lichess

82,028 games: White 48.7% / Draw 6.3% / Black 45.0%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
74,73775K
2,6102,610
2,5512,551
840840
379379
276276
217217
105105

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Nov 9, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.41 White is slightly better

Best play: 4. b3 Bg7 5. Bg2 d6 6. Bb2 O-O 7. Nf3 Ne4 8. Nc3 c6

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

Overview

Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation (ECO A86, Flank Openings) is a variation of the Dutch Defense: Fianchetto Variation, reached after 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 g6 (3 moves).

In 82,028 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.7%, Black 45.0% and 6.3% were drawn. White's most played move here is 4. Bg2, in 91% of those games.

It continues into one named variation.

Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.

Write a description or report a mistake
What would you like to send?

Markdown supported (headings ###, bold, lists, links). Submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Variations (1)

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 3…g6, the position after Dutch Defense: Fianchetto Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Dutch Defense: Leningrad Variation (A86)”. Lichess data as of 9 Nov 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/dutch-defense-leningrad-variation

https://chesscodex.org/openings/dutch-defense-leningrad-variation