Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Blackburne Attack

An entry in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings (ECO A91), reached after 9 half-moves: 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nh3.

Black rook — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

Black knight — Use ← → arrows or click moves to step through.

End of this line

No further variations branch from this position in our database. To explore neighbouring ideas:

About this opening

Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, Blackburne Attack is an opening in the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings, classified under code A91. ECO group A (A00–A99) covers flank and irregular openings, including the English, Bird, Réti and Dutch defences. This particular variation is reached after 9 half-moves from the starting position, with the move sequence 1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nh3.

It belongs to the Dutch Defense family. Within that family this is a level-2 branch (the Classical Variation → Blackburne Attack line). The immediate parent line is Dutch Defense: Classical Variation, transitioned via 5.Nh3.

The opening sequence in prose form: 1.d4 f5, 2.c4 Nf6, 3.g3 e6, 4.Bg2 Be7, 5.Nh3. From this position the encyclopaedia records no further canonical continuations — practical play branches into unnamed transpositions or returns to the parent line for alternative ideas.