The Dutch Defense is a chess opening that begins with the moves 1. d4 f5. It is characterized by Black’s move 1. … f5, which aims to control the e4-square and launch a later attack on White’s kingside during the middlegame. However, this move also weakens Black’s kingside, particularly the e8-h5 diagonal. The Dutch Defense is an aggressive and imbalanced opening, leading to a lower percentage of draws compared to other common responses to 1. d4. Throughout history, White has employed various strategies to exploit the vulnerabilities in Black’s kingside, such as the Staunton Gambit (2. e4) and Korchnoi Attack (2. h3 and 3. g4).
Since we have previously covered the traps in the Staunton Gambit in a short article, let’s shift our attention to the Korchnoi Attack today. This variation is named after Viktor Korchnoi (one of the strongest players never to have become World Chess Champion) and presents a favorable chance to exploit an opponent’s negligence in reinforcing their weakened kingside. By capitalizing on their failure to provide ample defenses, players can seize a promising opportunity to punish their opponent.
In our database, we have come across only two games that have followed the Janzen-Korchnoi Gambit line. Allow me to present one of them, which concluded with a satisfying double-check mate.