Flank openings

Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6

The Indian Defense starts with 1.d4 Nf6 and is catalogued under ECO A45, in the flank openings half of the book. The catalog indexes 53 lines inside it, grouped into 52 named variations, and the position after those moves has 13 playable continuations to walk from here.

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.

Current position
Indian Defense
Popularity by Elo
Share of Lichess blitz, rapid, and classical games that continued with each move.
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Current setup

Move ideas

  1. 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.

  2. 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
c4Indian Defense: Normal Variation455 named lines · Slav Indian · Benko GambitAdvances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Nf3Indian Defense: Knights Variation49 named lines · Döry Defense · London SystemDevelops the knight to f3, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Nc3Indian Defense12 named lines · Richter-Veresov Attack · Amazon Attack: Siberian AttackDevelops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.Bg5Trompowsky Attack9 named lines · Trompowsky Attack: Borg Variation · Trompowsky Attack: Edge VariationDevelops the bishop to g5, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.g4Indian Defense: Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit5 named lines · Indian Defense: Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit Accepted · Indian Defense: Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit, Maltese FalconAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Prepare a fianchetto or discourage the opponent’s expansion on that wing.f3Paleface Attack4 named lines · Indian Defense: Gedult Attack · Queen's Pawn Game: Veresov, Richter AttackAdvances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.e4Indian Defense: Omega Gambit2 named lines · Indian Defense: Omega Gambit, Arafat GambitAdvances to e4 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.b3Basque Opening1 named lineAdvances the b-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Bf4Indian Defense: Accelerated London System1 named lineDevelops the bishop to f4, bringing it into the game.Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.d5Indian Defense: Pawn Push Variation1 named lineAdvances to d5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.f4Canard Opening1 named lineAdvances the f-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.g3Indian Defense: Tartakower Attack1 named lineAdvances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.Nd2Indian Defense1 named line · Indian Defense: Lazard GambitDevelops 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.

28 more named lines sit inside this family — the tree above walks all of them.

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.