Current position
Mexican Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6
The Mexican Defense starts with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 and is catalogued under ECO A50, in the flank openings half of the book. The catalog indexes 2 lines inside it, grouped into 2 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.
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 c6, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Advances to d5 to claim central space and control nearby key squares.
Idea: Give the pieces room to develop behind a durable central foothold.
Waiting for Lichess game popularity.
Each line below is an indexed entry under Mexican Defense. Open one to load it on the board and keep exploring from that position.
ECO groups openings by the structures they lead to, so these families tend to share plans with the Mexican Defense.