Ponderchess / Openings
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Opening
The Bogo-Indian Defense in 3D
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+. When White avoids the Nimzo-Indian with 3.Nf3, Black gives a check that disturbs development and often trades the bishop.
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Bogo-Indian Defense: Haiti Variation, move by move: d4 Nf6 c4 e6 Nf3 Bb4+ Bd2 Nc6
The white pieces
Recapture on d2 in a way that helps the centre, often with Nbxd2 or Qxd2, and prepare e4. A kingside fianchetto with g3 and Bg2 adds pressure on the long diagonal.
The black pieces
After trading the dark-squared bishop, put pawns on dark squares with ...d6 and ...e5, develop with ...Nc6 or ...Nbd7, and castle short.
Look a little deeper · 01
4.Bd2 is the main line. Black can keep the bishop with 4...Qe7 (the Nimzowitsch Variation) or 4...a5 (the Wade-Smyslov Variation), exchange with 4...Bxd2+, retreat with 4...Be7, or counter at once with 4...c5 (the Vitolins Variation).
Look a little deeper · 02
4.Nbd2 (the Grünfeld Variation) blocks with a knight and prepares a3 to ask the bishop to take or retreat. If it takes on d2, White keeps the bishop pair.
Look a little deeper · 03
After the bishop trade Black often sets up with ...d6 and ...e5. The Retreat Variation (4.Bd2 Be7) with ...d5 instead leads to Queen's Gambit or Catalan positions, since White likes to play g3 and Bg2.
Bogo-Indian Defense: Haiti Variation, move by move: d4 Nf6 c4 e6 Nf3 Bb4+ Bd2 Nc6
Keyboard: Space pauses, the arrow keys step. Gold arrows are White's moves, violet are Black's, red rays are threats, green shows support, blue shows plans.
