The Diamond Dutch: Strategic Ideas & Powerful Weapons

The Diamond Dutch

Grandmaster Viktor Moskalenko does for the Dutch Defence what he did for the French and the Pirc: shakes up the theory and hands the reader a box of explosive new ideas. For anyone who plays the Dutch — or has to face it — this is danger and opportunity in equal measure.

The coverage is complete and works for both sides of the board. Moskalenko tackles the whole Anti-Dutch complex (the various gambits and the 2.Nc3 and 2.Bg5 systems White uses to dodge the main lines), the fianchetto "Catalanized" set-ups, and then the three great Dutch families — the Stonewall, the Classical, and the Leningrad — offering fresh weapons for Black and refutations of old ones.

As always, the draw is the author’s voice: he guides you through the lines with the enthusiasm, ease, and humour that have made his opening books cult favourites, so even sharp theory reads enjoyably and the key ideas stick.

A combative, idea-rich repertoire for club players and above who want to play the Dutch as an active, fighting opening — or who need to understand it well enough to take the fight to those who do.