Indian Defense

Indian Defense is a chess opening with the ECO code A45. It goes 1. d4 Nf6. White opens with 1. d4 (the queen's pawn) and Black answers 1... Nf6. After 2 moves it is White to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. d4 – White plays the pawn to d4
• 1... Nf6 – Black plays the knight to f6

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 2. c4, 2. Bg5, 2. Nf3, 2. Bf4.

About the Indian Defense

Black answers 1.d4 with 1...Nf6, controlling e4 with a piece instead of a pawn. This flexible move can lead to many systems.

• Black waits to see White's setup before choosing ...e6, ...g6 or ...c5.
• Many lines use a fianchetto, with the bishop on g7 or b7.
• Early ...c5 and ...b5 ideas (like the Benko) fight for the queenside.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the Indian Defense course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: Queen's Pawn Game (1. d4)
• Continues with: Basque Opening – adds 2. b3
• Continues with: Canard Opening – adds 2. f4
• Continues with: Indian Defense: Accelerated London System – adds 2. Bf4
• Continues with: Indian Defense: Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit – adds 2. g4
• Continues with: Indian Defense: Lazard Gambit – adds 2. Nd2 e5
• Continues with: Indian Defense: Maddigan Gambit – adds 2. Nc3 e5
• Continues with: Indian Defense: Omega Gambit – adds 2. e4
• Continues with: Indian Defense: Pawn Push Variation – adds 2. d5
• Related line: Indian Defense: Pseudo-Benko (1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5)
• Related line: Indian Defense: Accelerated London System (1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4)
• Related line: Indian Defense: Gedult Attack (1. d4 Nf6 2. f3 d5 3. g4)
• Related line: Indian Defense: Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit (1. d4 Nf6 2. g4)
• Related line: Indian Defense: Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit Accepted (1. d4 Nf6 2. g4 Nxg4)
• Related line: Indian Defense: Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit, Maltese Falcon (1. d4 Nf6 2. g4 Nxg4 3. f3 Nf6 4. e4)

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