Answers.Body: <p>A couple thoughts:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li><p>After <code>Bxf4</code>, taking <code>gxf4</code> is acceptable.  The g-file is open, black's ideas of <code>g5</code> are prevented, you have a lock on e5, and can fix the pawn structure with <code>f3</code>+<code>e4</code>.</p></li>
  <li><p>After a <code>g5-g4</code> push, h4 is often a better square for the knight than f4, to stop <code>h5-h4</code>.</p></li>
  <li><p><code>f3</code> points at e5, a better square than f4.  <code>f4</code> is vulnerable to an <code>e5</code> push, and the e6 pawn is rarely weak.</p></li>
  </ol>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-12-06T19:51:50.933Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-12-06T20:38:03.383Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2012-12-06T20:38:03.383Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Andrew Latham
Body: <p>I have heard that it is a good idea for white to trade dark-squared bishops because blacks pawns often end up on light squares leaving the dark squares vulnerable.  In the scenario below, it seems <code>5. Nh3</code> is white's best move for reasons I will explain below, but are there any good reasons why white would choose <code>5. Nf3</code> over <code>5. Nh3</code></p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. c4 d5 5. Nf3 (5. Nh3) c6
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>If white does in fact play <code>5. Nf3</code> and play continues with <code>5...c6 6. O-O Bd6</code>, then if white's Knight were on <code>h3</code> instead of <code>f3</code>, white could easily prepare the move <code>Bf4</code> without worrying about getting a damaged pawn structure.  With <code>5. Nf3 c6 6. O-O Bd6</code>, white's best move is <code>b3</code> aiming to exchange dark squared bishops with <code>Ba3</code>, but black's <code>Qd7</code> stops the dark squared bishop exchange for sometime.</p>
  
  <p>Given the above, if white isntead decides to play <code>5. Nh3</code>, white is preparing <code>Bf4</code> for the exchange of the dark squared bishops and avoids the battery of the Bishop on <code>d6</code> and the Queen on <code>d7</code>.</p>
  
  <p>Given that <code>5. Nh3</code> has known as long as the stonewall formation has been known and masters of the past have played it frequently, so why is <code>5. Nf3</code> more popular when it actually seems inferior to <code>5. Nh3</code>.  Is it because <code>5. Nf3</code> just seems like a more natural move or has a more natural feel to it?  Are there any other reasons to play <code>5. Nf3</code> over <code>5. Nh3</code>?</p>
  
Tags: <opening><dutch-defense>
Title: Reason(s) to play 5. Nf3 in the stonewall dutch opening?
ThreadText: # Reason(s) to play 5. Nf3 in the stonewall dutch opening?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2012-12-06)
  
  I have heard that it is a good idea for white to trade dark-squared bishops because blacks pawns often end up on light squares leaving the dark squares vulnerable. In the scenario below, it seems `5. Nh3` is white's best move for reasons I will explain below, but are there any good reasons why white would choose `5. Nf3` over `5. Nh3`
  
  ```
  [FEN ""]
  1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. c4 d5 5. Nf3 (5. Nh3) c6
  
  ```
  
  If white does in fact play `5. Nf3` and play continues with `5...c6 6. O-O Bd6`, then if white's Knight were on `h3` instead of `f3`, white could easily prepare the move `Bf4` without worrying about getting a damaged pawn structure. With `5. Nf3 c6 6. O-O Bd6`, white's best move is `b3` aiming to exchange dark squared bishops with `Ba3`, but black's `Qd7` stops the dark squared bishop exchange for sometime.
  
  Given the above, if white isntead decides to play `5. Nh3`, white is preparing `Bf4` for the exchange of the dark squared bishops and avoids the battery of the Bishop on `d6` and the Queen on `d7`.
  
  Given that `5. Nh3` has known as long as the stonewall formation has been known and masters of the past have played it frequently, so why is `5. Nf3` more popular when it actually seems inferior to `5. Nh3`. Is it because `5. Nf3` just seems like a more natural move or has a more natural feel to it? Are there any other reasons to play `5. Nf3` over `5. Nh3`?
  
  **Tags:** opening, dutch-defense
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2012-12-06. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
  
  A couple thoughts:
  
  1. After `Bxf4`, taking `gxf4` is acceptable. The g-file is open, black's ideas of `g5` are prevented, you have a lock on e5, and can fix the pawn structure with `f3`+`e4`.
  2. After a `g5-g4` push, h4 is often a better square for the knight than f4, to stop `h5-h4`.
  3. `f3` points at e5, a better square than f4. `f4` is vulnerable to an `e5` push, and the e6 pawn is rarely weak.
  
  
  ---
  
  