Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...f5/2. h3

Korchnoi Attack
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkbnr/ppppp1pp/8/5p2/3P4/7P/PPP1PPP1/RNBQKBNR b
Moves: 1. d4 f5, 2. h3
ECO code: A80
Parent: Dutch Defence

2.h3 - Dutch Defence, Korchnoi Attack

The Korchnoi attack is a theory based, sound, aggressive way to play against the Dutch. This Attack has been named after the Russian Grandmaster, Viktor Lvovich Korchnoi.

Viktor Lvovich Korchnoi (Russian: Виктор Львович Корчной, IPA: [vʲiktər lʲvovʲɪtɕ kɐrtɕˈnoj]; 23 March 1931 – 6 June 2016) was a Soviet (before 1976) and Swiss (after 1980) chess grandmaster (GM) and chess writer. He is considered one of the strongest players never to have become World Chess Champion.

Black has to respond differently right from the start. Black strongest responses are:

• for the open variations with 2...d6 3...e5 4...Nc6,
• for the closed variations with 2...d5 3...c5 4...e6,

In both variation in the spirit of the Dutch Defence, black will fight in most sound and aggressive way possible. In the event of the open variations white can go for

• for the classic variation with 3.g6... 4.Bg5... 5.e5...
• for the normal variation with 3.Nf3... 4.c4... 5.Nc3...
• for the modern variation with 3.Nc3... 4.e5 fxe5 5.Nxe5...

In the case of the Dutch Defence, Korchnoi Attack, open Variations there is high probability to castle on opposing sites, which can lead to very exciting positions.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1. d4 f5 2.h3

	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Korchnoi Trap	... Nf6	g4 fxg4	hxg4 Nxg4	Qd3 Nf6	Rxh7 Rxh7	Qg6# ...			+
	... Nf6	g4 fxg4	hxg4 Nxg4	Qd3 g6	Rxh7 Rxh7	Qxg6+ Rf7	Qxg4 d5	Qh5 Qd6	+-
Janzen-Korchnoi Gambit accepted	... Nf6	g4 fxg4	hxg4 d5	g5 Ne4	... ...	... ...			+/=
Janzen-Korchnoi Gambit accepted Donkey Variation	... Nf6	g4 fxg4	hxg4 d5	g5 Ne4	f3 Ng3	Rh2 Nxf1	Kxf1 g6		-+
Janzen-Korchnoi Gambit declined	... Nf6	g4 d5	hxg4 d5	g5 Ne4	Nf3 e6	Bf4 c5	e3 Bd6	Bb5+ Bd7	-/+
Zmajcic Defense, Paniagua Attack	... d6	g4 e5	dxe5 Nc6	Nf3 fxg4	hxg4 Bxg4	Bg5 Qd7	exd6 Bxd6	Bg2 Nf6	+/=
Zmajcic Defense, Takovsky Attack	... d6	g4 e5	Bg2 Nc6	dxe5 Nxe5	gxf5 Bxf5	Bxb7 Rb8	Bg2 Nf6	Nc3 Be7	+/=
Zmajcic Defense, Melcer-Szczawiński Attack	... d6	g4 e5	e4 fxe4	dxe5 Nc6	Nc3 Be6	Be3 h5	Qe2 Qd7	O-O-O Bxe5	+/=
Zmajcic Defense, Erlang Attack	... d6	g4 e5	d5 c6	e4 fxe4	c4 Nf6	g5 Nfd7	Nc3 Nc5	Be3 Nba6	=/+
Yelizovo Defense, Wians Attack	... d6	g4 fxg4	hxg4 Bxg4	Qd3 Nf6	Bg5 c6	Bxf6 gxf6	Rxh7 Rxh7	Qxh7 Qa5+	+/=
Yelizovo Defense, Gerogiannis Attack	... d6	g4 fxg4	e4 e5	hxg4 exd4	Qxd4 Nc6	Qa4 Bxg4	Nc3 Nf6	Bg5 a6	+/=
Yelizovo Defense, Feuerstein Attack	... d6	g4 fxg4	Qd3 g3	fxg3 Nf6	Bg5 c6	Nc3 Qa5	Bxf6 exf6	Qe3+ Be7	+/=
Yelizovo Defense, Biriukov Attack	... d6	g4 fxg4	Bf4 Nf6	e3 c5	Nc3 cxd4	exd4 g6	Be2 g3	Bxg3+ Bh6	=/+

References

• Lichess Studies, Dutch Defence, Korchnoi Attack
• Chess.com, Library:
• Gamenot.com, annotated games: Dutch Defence, Korchnoi Attack
• Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.