Blackburne Variation

The Blackburne Variation of the Dutch Defense arises after 1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. Nh3. White develops the king's knight to h3 rather than f3, which keeps the long diagonal clear for the fianchettoed bishop and leaves the f-pawn unobstructed. Black most often replies 4...Be7 or 4...d5, with 4...Nc6 a distant third. The line is seldom played, White scores well in practice, and the engine gives White a slight edge.