Classical vs Leningrad Dutch

Hello everyone.  I am a fairly aggressive otb player with a rating hovering around 1800.  I was wondering if I want to play aggressive is the classical or the leningrad dutch a better choice?

Thanks

If you play against me OTB, you won't get a chance to play the Classical Dutch. I play 1. d4 f5 2. Bg5.

Well ok but I'm more talking about someone that plays into "mainline" not some offbeat sideline

I am new to the dutch defense aswell, and I am planning to focus on the leningrad. I believe the leningrad is the most aggressive but also the most theoretical by far. The stonewall might be a good choice too, it is aggressive and not as theoretical.

Playing the Leningrad is alot like playing a wierd KID and is probaly less agressive but also less liable to horribly fail than classical dutch. Realy the only thing Leningrad dutch and Classical dutch have in common is 1.f5

Very well, but you should be aware that people won't always play the "mainline", especially against offbeat openings like the Dutch.

You've never played at my club :p

7...Nc6 is considered a weaker line nowadays.  The mainline Leningrad is 7...Qe8; 7...c6 is also playable.

I was a longtime Dutch skeptic, because when I was a d4 player, I was on the White side of numerous crushing victories against the Stonewall & Classical.  I've been playing the Leningrad myself a lot lately, though, and I've been pleased with the results.

I did like the finish in your game.  Allow me to offer a contrasting view from the black side, though:

leningrad is considered the most agresive dutch so if you want agressive its a good choice

I like all dutch defenses and I have played classical and stonewall a lot.

If you know pawn storm well,try leningard.It's kind of accelerated King's indian when black has already played f5.

classical is also good and gives lot of attacking chances and specially If white does not fianchetto he will be in trouble:)

to see classical dutch games,look at Simon William's games and to see leningard dutch,look at Alekhin's games

If you want to really learn how to play the Dutch Defense -- ie. all of the structures -- join the group Dynamic Dutch Defense.

Search for us under Share -- Groups and Teams -- in the Tabs above.

We play the White and the Black side of these structures. 

having played all the dutch defences, i would say the leningrad is the best since it doesnt have many weakenesses unlike the stonewall and classical

you need to have some knowledge of all lines of the Dutch as there are many situations with overlap especially if you go for leningrad variation.. one might want to transpose to a favorable stonewall or classical structure.. also these offbeat sidelines (which you will see a lot) require knowledge of many Dutch structures... I have hundreds of games playing the Dutch and probably 2% of my games actually follow the absolute mainline Leningrad system... therefore learning structures and plans for me is more important especially at this 1800 level

Get better at chess before studying openings.

The Leningrad Dutch is a great choice for aggressive players. It is like an accelerated KID. It is nice too in that you can play it against 1. d4, 1. c4, and 1. Nf3. 

@rob9258 wrote:

7...Nc6 is considered a weaker line nowadays.  The mainline Leningrad is 7...Qe8; 7...c6 is also playable.

I was a longtime Dutch skeptic, because when I was a d4 player, I was on the White side of numerous crushing victories against the Stonewall & Classical.  I've been playing the Leningrad myself a lot lately, though, and I've been pleased with the results.

I did like the finish in your game.  Allow me to offer a contrasting view from the black side, though: