Dutch Defence (Bladel Variation)

Now leaving opening theory: This page represents a rare sideline. Before making new pages for following moves, please consider line notability.

3...Nh6!? is an offbeat continuation in the Dutch defence. Black develops their knight to the edge of the board. 3...Nf6 would be more active, but ...Nh6 is just about getting the knight out of the way. It at least helps Black get ready to castle, and keeping the f6 square clear of pieces means both ...Bg7 will exert immediate pressure and (so long as Black can castle and open the f-file) so will Black's rook on f8. Black may later reroute their knight to f7 or f5.

White may choose to continue with their typical development plans, e.g. 4. Nf3 with g3 and Bg2 or e3 and Be2.

4. e4 is testing. White seizes more space in the centre. If 4...fxe4 5. Nxe4 White is happy to see the position open, where they aim to punish Black's passive play and weakened kingside with an attack. Black may leave the pawn tension, hoping that White will take into them so they may recapture and activate their knight, 4...d6 5. exf5 Nxf5, or otherwise play 4...d6 and 5...Nf7.

The Bladel variation was first played by Max Euwe in Flohr v Euwe, 1969, during a small tournament in Bladel, the Netherlands, held in memoriam of Richard Réti.^[1] The four competitors in the tournament had all faced Reti before his death forty years prior. A contemporary account from USCF's Chess Life read:^[2]

One would hardly have expected opening novelties to be produced in such a tournament, but Euwe uncorked one in his game against Flohr. Playing Black, Euwe chose the Dutch Defense, introducing the following line: 1. P-Q4, P-KB4; 2. P-QB4, P-KN3; 3. N-QB3, N-KR3!?; 4. P-K4, P-Q3; 5. P-QN3, B-N2; 6. B-N2, 0-0; 7. N-B3, N·B3; 8. B-K2, P-K4; 9. QPxP, NxP; 10. PXP, NxP; 11.0-0, B-Q2; 12. Q-Q2, and a draw was agreed. Hardly an auspicious launching, but perhaps the "Bladel Variation" will find a home in some future anthology of openings.

At time of writing it still has yet to find a "home": the line has hardly ever been played since and there is little established theory.

Wikipedia has related information at Dutch Defence.