The Leningrad Variation, Matulovic Variation is a variation of the Dutch Defense, catalogued as ECO A89. The line runs 1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Nc6, reaching the position shown below after 14 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move after seven moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.
On the Dutch Defense generally: An aggressive response to 1.d4 where Black immediately fights for control of the e4 square.
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The Leningrad Variation, Matulovic Variation goes 1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Nc6. It is a variation of the Dutch Defense and is catalogued as ECO A89.
The Leningrad Variation, Matulovic Variation is ECO A89. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Dutch Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Nc6 at +0.71 at depth 18, which is a small but real edge for White. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.