How to avoid the Dutch Defence!

To avoid the Dutch Defence after 1. d4 f5 is to play 2.e4 introducing the Staunton Gambit.

The Staunton Gambit

• White sacrifices a pawn to make quick development for himself/herself.
• This is mainly due to the fact white wants to attack black on the kingside (since the kingside is weakened by the f5 pawn)

The main line in the Staunton Gambit is the move 4.Bg5 followed by 4...Nc6 5.d5.

A common trap that occurs in the Staunton Gambit is shown below.

This is when Black regains his pawn.

Another two lines which also can occur are:

• f3 - The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit

        Though its not 1.d4 f5. It's 1.d4 d5 but its related to the Staunton gambit (in the sense 1.d4 d5 2.e4)

• g4 - The Bayonet Attack (though it doesn't occur anymore due to 4...h6!)

So if you want to avoid the Dutch Defence you could play the Staunton Gambit.