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Ponderchess / Openings

Old Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6. Black prepares ...e5 with ...Nbd7 and usually puts the bishop on e7, a solid but more passive cousin of the King's Indian Defense.

Watch it in 3D

3D lesson · 5 steps · 30 seconds

The Old Indian Defense in 3D

Old Indian Defense, move by move: d4 d6 c4

Preparing your opening…

Key ideas

  • The usual plan is ...Nbd7, ...e5, ...Be7, ...O-O and ...c6, as in the Normal Variation (3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.e4 e5 5.Nf3). Black's pieces sit behind a firm pawn on e5, much as in the Philidor Defense.
  • In the Ukrainian Variation (3.Nc3 e5) White can exchange queens with 4.dxe5 dxe5 5.Qxd8+ Kxd8. Black loses the right to castle, but with queens off the king is safe enough and the position is sound.
  • The Janowski Variation (3.Nc3 Bf5) develops the bishop outside the pawn chain before White plays e4. The main line, 4.f3, prepares e4 to drive it back.
  • The Czech Variation (...c6) and the Tartakower-Indian (3.Nf3 Bg4) are flexible alternatives: one keeps ...e5 in reserve, the other pins the knight to fight for d4.

Plans for White

Use the extra space. e4, Nf3, Be2 and O-O form the standard setup; if the centre locks with d5, play on the queenside with b4 and c5.

Plans for Black

Hold e5 with ...Nbd7 and ...c6, keep the bishop on e7 and the rook on e8, and look for ...exd4 when White's centre is overextended. If White plays d5, ...a5 and ...Nc5 secure a good square for the knight.