4.e4 exd4 5.Qxd4 Nc6 is variation 4 of 6 in the Old Indian Defence course, a intermediate opening course for Black (ECO A53). It runs 24 moves and begins 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 e5 4. e4 exd4 …. White plays 4.e4 at once. Black takes on d4 and chases the queen with ...Nc6. Then Black fianchettoes, castles and puts a rook on e8 against the e4 pawn. In the lesson every move is explained on a board and then drilled; it is free.
Move by move
1. d4 – White takes the centre.
1... Nf6 – Black develops and watches e4.
2. c4 – White gains space.
2... d6 – The Old Indian. Black prepares e5.
3. Nc3 – White develops.
3... e5 – Black claims the centre.
4. e4 – White builds a big centre at once, but leaves d4 with only the queen to guard it.
4... exd4 – Black takes the pawn. The white queen has to take back.
5. Qxd4 – The queen takes back and stands in the centre.
5... Nc6 – Black develops with an attack on the queen.
6. Qd1 – The queen goes home. It is safe there.
6... g6 – Black prepares to put the bishop on g7, where it looks down the long diagonal.
7. Nf3 – White develops.
7... Bg7 – The bishop takes its place on g7.
8. Be2 – White develops and gets ready to castle.
8... O-O – Black castles.
The lesson goes on for 8 more moves, each with its explanation.
chessGM