Anglo-Dutch Defense

The Anglo-Dutch Defense answers 1. c4 with 1...f5, the same pawn move Black makes against 1. d4 in the Dutch Defense. The f-pawn controls e4 and sets up a kingside-oriented scheme. The English lets White postpone d2-d4, so the game reaches the Dutch proper only if White chooses to, most directly with 2. d4. Black must also be ready for lines in which White keeps the d-pawn at home and treats the position as a flank opening. The reply is regarded as offbeat, and the engine gives White a slight edge.

The most common continuation is 2. Nc3, which develops while adding control of e4. 2. g3 prepares a kingside fianchetto aimed down the long diagonal, and 2. Nf3 and 2. b3 are other quiet developing options. 2. Qc2 attacks the f5-pawn directly. White also has two gambits. The Hickmann Gambit, 2. e4, strikes at the f-pawn at once. The Wade Gambit, 2. g4, is a rarely played attempt to undermine f5 from the flank. In online games White scores slightly better than Black.