The Diamond Dutch: Strategic Ideas & Powerful Weapons

“The Dutch Defence is a diamond in the treasure box of modern chess openings.” 
— Viktor Moskalenko

The widely-played Dutch Defence is a sharp choice. Black does not try to preserve a positional balance, but chooses to fight it out. 

No author is more qualified to explore new ideas in the Dutch than Viktor Moskalenko, a renowned champion of dynamic play.

The Diamond Dutch is not a repertoire book. Moskalenko himself plays this chess opening with both colours and covers the entire spectrum for White as well as Black:
— various Anti-Dutch weapons
— the Stonewall System
— the Classical System
— the Leningrad System.

As Moskalenko thoroughly shakes up the lines of yet another chess opening, he keeps both the strategic principles and the tactical finesses firmly in sight. 

He presents a host of novelties, daring recommendations, new resources and cunning tricks. As always he describes his ideas in his  inimitable style full of humour and enthusiasm, and illustrates them with plenty of his own games.

Viktor Moskalenko (1960) is an International Grandmaster and a well-known chess coach. The former Ukrainian champion has won many tournaments in Spain, his new home country. He is the author of The Fabulous Budapest Gambit (2007), The Flexible French (2008), Revolutionize Your Chess (2009), The Wonderful Winawer (2010) and The Perfect Pirc-Modern (2013).

Glenn Flear, author of ‘Starting Out: Open Games’:
“These days there is a tendency for books on the Dutch to touch only one system, here you have everything, and even with handy antidotes from White’s point of view. There are plenty of themes and general strategy for more modest readers, as well as some cutting-edge theory which will challenge oppenents of all standards (..) Books by Viktor Moskalenko are always great fun. They are the perfect medicine if you suffer from opening preparation blues!(..) For anyone who comes into contact with the Dutch, a gem and a valuable one at that!”

Dennis Monokroussos, ChessToday:
“Moskalenko makes the book as user-friendly as possible, with little stories, highlighted tactics, transpositional subtleties and other helpful tidbits (..) A fascinating collection of analyses of the Dutch, and I can’t imagine why any player using this opening would want to do without it.”

Marshtower Chess Reviews:
“With a plethora of new ideas, sparkling games and delivered in very enthusiastic style, The Diamond Dutch is a significant addition to the literature on 1.d4 f5. It is entirely accessible to players from ‘improving club player’ standard upwards. Viktor Moskalenko is one of my favourite authors and I can happily recommend his latest book, which keeps up the very high standards of his previous volumes.” 

Martin Rieger, SchachWelt:
“Moskalenko’s explanations are understandable and convincing, his tips and recommendations show his great know-how and the reader always has the pleasant feeling that he is learning something new.”

Lukas Wedrychowski, DailyChess.org:
“Those who have read Moskalenko before, know that he only writes about things he is a great expert in (..) This book will be of great value to many players.”

Uwe Bekemann, German Correspondence Chess Federation:
“A very good basis for both Black and White to understand the ideas behind the Dutch Defence and learn and play many new lines.”

John D.Warth, Chess Club of Southern Indiana:
“What makes this book compelling is the intensity of its cu
tting-edge lines, but organized for maximum understanding and readability. Like a well-ordered mathematics text, shaded boxes enclose important points. Those boxes denote weapons, puzzles, traps, and chapter summaries for better clarity. Club and tournament players will enjoy the many illustrative games (..) An eminently enjoyable book.”

Elburg Chess Reviews:
“Loaded with astounding ideas.”

John Hartmann Chess Book Reviews:
“I do not think there is a better guide to the Dutch – for either color – currently in print.”

British Chess Magazine:
“The text is very clear with creative use of icons. Chapter summaries are boxed and bullet pointed (..) The author is a top Ukrainian grandmaster and a FIDE Senior Trainer. No wonder he teaches so well.”

Viktor Kortchnoi, on The Wonderful Winawer:
“Familiarizing oneself with Moskalenko’s new ideas can  only have a beneficial effect on the play of any reader, from amateur to professional.” 

Vassily Ivanchuk, on The Perfect Pirc-Modern:
“This book will undoubtedly help you to master not just the Pirc and Modern Defenses, but also to systematize and perfect your understanding of the key points of other openings.”