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Indian Defence




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Opening name: Indian Defence
Opening line: 1. d4 Nf6
Lichess Board
Wikibooks Page


Winning percentages

White: 180066 (32.69%)
Black: 130039 (23.61%)
Draws: 240676 (43.7%)

Indian Defence

1...Nf6

Black's 1...Nf6 in response to 1.d4 is characteristic of the various "Indian" defences. Unlike 1...d5, which fights for the center in traditional fashion by occupying it with pawns, Indian systems reflect the hyper modern approach to opening theory. In such openings, Black often allows White to construct a classical pawn center, but then attempts to attack it with pieces and undermine it with timely pawn advances. By delaying the movement of his own central pawns, Black retains a certain degree of flexibility at the cost of ceding the center to White.

It should be noted that while 1...Nf6 often leads to Indian systems, transpositions back into other openings such as the Queen's Gambit are not uncommon. As in any opening, both players should remain aware of these possibilities.

The main continuation for White is 2.c4. In fact, there are many playable moves at this point, but most of them either transpose back into a typical 2.c4 position or into other more or less orthodox 1.d4 openings. Some lines such as 2.Bg5 may lead to strange positions, but even these may transpose or become similar to other mainstream 1.d4 openings.

Hopefully this gives some background as to why 2.c4 is the main move discussed in opening books. Feel free to play 2.Nf3, 2.Nc3, or even 2.c3, 2.Bf4, or 2.Bg5. Even so, learning the main positions (and, more importantly, the strategies) arising from 2.c4 will not be time wasted.

Nd2 is a weak move by White where Black can play the Budapest trap (Nd2 - e5, dxe5 - Ng4, h3 - Ne3)


Most popular responses

  • 2. c4 (Indian Defence) Lichess Analysis - Wikibooks (118349851 games)

  • 2. Nf3 (Indian Defence) White develops a piece to its ideal square and keeps his options open. This move also is important for controlling the center. Lichess Analysis - Wikibooks (61131951 games)

  • 2. Nc3 (Queen's Pawn Opening) White develops his Queen's Knight to support 3. e4, sometimes called the Veresov Opening. After Black's usual reply 2. ... Lichess Analysis - Wikibooks (19727216 games)

  • 2. Bg5 (Trompowsky Attack) Lichess Analysis - Wikibooks (11369022 games)


    Engine Evaluation

    Depth: 59
    Score: +0.17
    Best Move: c4
    PV Line: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 c5

    Historical games for Indian Defence

    GameResultYear
    Carlsen, M. (2882) vs Caruana, F. (2818)1/2-1/22019
    Caruana, Fabiano (2835) vs Carlsen, Magnus (2863)0-12020
    Carlsen, Magnus (2863) vs Caruana, Fabiano (2835)1-02020
    Carlsen, Magnus (2863) vs Caruana, Fabiano (2835)1-02020
    Carlsen, Magnus (2863) vs Caruana, Fabiano (2835)1/2-1/22020
    Carlsen, Magnus (2863) vs Caruana, Fabiano (2835)1-02020
    Caruana, Fabiano (2835) vs Carlsen, Magnus (2863)1/2-1/22020
    Carlsen, Magnus (2863) vs Caruana, Fabiano (2835)1-02020
    Aronian, L. (2815) vs Carlsen, M. (2881)1/2-1/22014
    Carlsen, M. (2881) vs Aronian, L. (2815)1/2-1/22014
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