Current position
Trompowsky Attack: Edge Variation
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 1 playable continuation to walk from here.
Root edges show how often each move is played around your Elo. Use the arrow on a position to reveal the next replies.
Current setup
Move ideas
Takes central space with a protected pawn and frees the queen’s bishop.
Idea: Build a stable center that supports a broad positional setup.
Develops a knight and prevents White from occupying e4 unchallenged.
Idea: Keep the central pawns flexible and choose an Indian setup after White commits.
Develops the bishop to g5, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Repositions the knight to e4, where it influences a new part of the board.
Idea: Improve the piece’s activity and support the next stage of the plan.
Repositions the bishop to h4, where it influences a new part of the board.
Idea: Improve the piece’s activity and support the next stage of the plan.
Advances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.
Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.
Develops the knight to d2, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Repositions the queen to a5, where it influences a new part of the board.
Idea: Coordinate threats carefully while avoiding unnecessary tempi against the queen.
Advances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.
Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.
Waiting for Lichess game popularity.
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.
ECO groups openings by the structures they lead to, so these families tend to share plans with the Indian Defense.