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Indian Defense 1.d4 Nf6
The Indian Defense starts with 1.d4 Nf6 and is catalogued under ECO A45. It belongs to the flank openings section of the book. The catalog indexes 53 lines inside it, grouped into 52 named variations. The position after those moves has 13 playable continuations to walk from here.
i Interactive lessons Indian Defenses And The Black Knights' Tango
20 min · 10 steps · 7 questions
Budapest Defense
22 min · 10 steps · 8 questions
Opening repertoire map Root edges show how often each move is played around your Elo. Use the arrow on a position to reveal the next replies.
Open Indian Defense position Study Indian Defense position Collapse Indian Defense continuations
Show replies after c4 — Normal Variation Study c4 — Normal Variation position Expand c4 — Normal Variation continuations
Show replies after Nf3 — Knights Variation Study Nf3 — Knights Variation position Expand Nf3 — Knights Variation continuations
Show replies after Nc3 — Indian Defense Study Nc3 — Indian Defense position Expand Nc3 — Indian Defense continuations
Show replies after Bg5 — Trompowsky Attack Study Bg5 — Trompowsky Attack position Expand Bg5 — Trompowsky Attack continuations
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1. d4
Takes central space with a protected pawn and frees the queen’s bishop.
Idea: Build a stable center that supports a broad positional setup.
1… Nf6
Develops a knight and prevents White from occupying e4 unchallenged.
Idea: Keep the central pawns flexible and choose an Indian setup after White commits.
Book continuations Waiting for Lichess game popularity.
13 moves c4 Indian Defense: Normal Variation 455 named lines · Slav Indian · Benko Gambit Advances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares. Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Nf3 Indian Defense: Knights Variation 49 named lines · Döry Defense · London System Develops the knight to f3, bringing it into the game. Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Nc3 Indian Defense 12 named lines · Richter-Veresov Attack · Amazon Attack: Siberian Attack Develops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game. Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Bg5 Trompowsky Attack 9 named lines · Trompowsky Attack: Borg Variation · Trompowsky Attack: Edge Variation Develops the bishop to g5, bringing it into the game. Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.g4 Indian Defense: Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit 5 named lines · Indian Defense: Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit Accepted · Indian Defense: Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit, Maltese Falcon Advances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares. Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.f3 Paleface Attack 4 named lines · Indian Defense: Gedult Attack · Queen's Pawn Game: Veresov, Richter Attack Advances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares. Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.e4 Indian Defense: Omega Gambit 2 named lines · Indian Defense: Omega Gambit, Arafat Gambit Advances to e4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares. Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.b3 Basque Opening 1 named line Advances the b-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares. Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Bf4 Indian Defense: Accelerated London System 1 named line Develops the bishop to f4, bringing it into the game. Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.d5 Indian Defense: Pawn Push Variation 1 named line Advances to d5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares. Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.f4 Canard Opening 1 named line Advances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares. Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.g3 Indian Defense: Tartakower Attack 1 named line Advances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares. Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Nd2 Indian Defense 1 named line · Indian Defense: Lazard Gambit Develops the knight to d2, bringing it into the game. Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Named variations Each line below is an indexed entry under Indian Defense. Open one to load it on the board and keep exploring from that position.
Indian Defense A45 d4 Nf6 Accelerated London System A45 d4 Nf6 Bf4 Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit A45 d4 Nf6 g4 Knights Variation A46 d4 Nf6 Nf3 Openings from the same volume ECO groups openings by the structures they lead to, so these families tend to share plans with the Indian Defense.
C o dy Clear chess coaching, right beside the board.
Normal Variation A50
d4 Nf6 c4
Omega Gambit A45 d4 Nf6 e4
Pawn Push Variation A45 d4 Nf6 d5
Tartakower Attack A45 d4 Nf6 g3
Budapest Gambit A51 d4 Nf6 c4 e5
Czech-Indian A46 d4 Nf6 Nf3 c6
Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit Accepted A45 d4 Nf6 g4 Nxg4
Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit, Oshima Defense A45 d4 Nf6 g4 e5
Knights Variation, Alburt-Miles Variation A46 d4 Nf6 Nf3 a6
Lazard Gambit A45 d4 Nf6 Nd2 e5
Maddigan Gambit A45 d4 Nf6 Nc3 e5
Medusa Gambit A50 d4 Nf6 c4 g5
Polish Variation A46 d4 Nf6 Nf3 b5
Pyrenees Gambit A50 d4 Nf6 c4 b5
Reversed Chigorin Defense A45 d4 Nf6 Nc3 c5
Spielmann-Indian A46 d4 Nf6 Nf3 c5
Wade-Tartakower Defense A46 d4 Nf6 Nf3 d6
West Indian Defense E60 d4 Nf6 c4 g6
Anti-Grünfeld, Advance Variation E60 d4 Nf6 c4 g6 d5
Anti-Grünfeld, Alekhine Variation E60 d4 Nf6 c4 g6 f3 © 2026 Cody Chess. All rights reserved.
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28 more named lines sit inside this family — the tree above walks all of them.
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