Which variation of Classical Dutch is better?
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which variation of Classical Dutch is better?
1. Where you trade dark squared bishop with knight by giving Bb4 check.
2. Or where you put the bishop on e7.
I personally think Be7 is passive.
It depends on what white is playing. There are times you don't want them to have two knights as your objective is the closed centre with a pawn advance on the king, and you want the pawn structure damaged so they must castle kingside. But, white may defend with the queen and preserve queen side castling option as well as a good pawn structure. At this point the game will be more open and you would want the bishop pair. The retreat makes the bishop pin a misdirection distraction whilst you develop. White may not have wanted the queen on c2 or b3 so it is an inconvenience, but you have a plan with bishops on b7 and d6 aimed at the kingside in an open board.