A43-A52 (+E00-E60)

Indian Defense

53 named lines in this family, ECO A43-A52 (+E00-E60). Every one of them opens 1. d4 Nf6, so the notes on those moves are written once, just below, instead of once per line. Under each line you get its moves and the sentences it adds that this page has not already printed. A line's own page carries up to its first 4 per-move notes in full.

The moves every line here plays

1. d4 Nf6

• 1. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4.

Pseudo-BenkoA43

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 b5

In the centre, White holds d5.

• 2. Nf3 Develops the knight to f3, eyeing d4 and e5. It also props up the d4 pawn. Theory calls this the Knights Variation.
• 2... c5 Challenges the pawn on d4 - the central tension has to resolve. Theory calls this the Spielmann-Indian.

Main line, through 1... Nf6A45

1. d4 Nf6

In the centre, White holds d4.

Accelerated London SystemA45

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4

• 2. Bf4 Develops the bishop to f4, eyeing e5. Theory calls this the Accelerated London System.

Gibbins-Weidenhagen GambitA45

1. d4 Nf6 2. g4

• 2. g4 Opens the f1-h3 diagonal for the bishop. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Omega GambitA45

1. d4 Nf6 2. e4

In the centre, White holds d4 and e4.

• 2. e4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d5, and frees the bishop and queen. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Omega Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Pawn Push VariationA45

1. d4 Nf6 2. d5

• 2. d5 Pushes on to d5 - grabbing space and fixing the centre, and the queen breathes. Theory calls this the Pawn Push Variation.

Tartakower AttackA45

1. d4 Nf6 2. g3

• 2. g3 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g2. Theory calls this the Tartakower Attack.

Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit AcceptedA45

1. d4 Nf6 2. g4 Nxg4

Black keeps the extra pawn; White plays for time, open lines, and initiative - the classic gambit trade.

• 2... Nxg4 Takes the pawn on g4. Theory calls this the Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit Accepted.

Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit, Oshima DefenseA45

1. d4 Nf6 2. g4 e5

In the centre, White holds d4 while Black holds e5.

• 2... e5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling d4, and frees the bishop and queen. Theory calls this the Oshima Defense.

Lazard GambitA45

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nd2 e5

• 2. Nd2 Develops the knight to d2, eyeing e4.
• 2... e5 The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Lazard Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Maddigan GambitA45

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5

• 2. Nc3 Develops the knight to c3, eyeing d5 and e4.
• 2... e5 The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Maddigan Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Reversed Chigorin DefenseA45

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5

• 2... c5 Theory calls this the Reversed Chigorin Defense.

Gedult AttackA45

1. d4 Nf6 2. f3 d5 3. g4

In the centre, White holds d4 while Black holds d5.

• 2. f3 Fights for e4 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Paleface Attack.
• 2... d5 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e4, and frees the bishop and queen.

Paleface Attack, Blackmar-Diemer Gambit DeferredA45

1. d4 Nf6 2. f3 d5 3. e4

The pawns on d5 and e4 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure.

Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit, Maltese FalconA45

1. d4 Nf6 2. g4 Nxg4 3. f3 Nf6 4. e4

The structure hands White the half-open g-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan.

Omega Gambit, Arafat GambitA45

1. d4 Nf6 2. e4 Nxe4 3. Bd3 Nf6 4. Bg5

The structure hands White the half-open e-file - rook pressure down it is a standing plan.

• 2... Nxe4 Takes the pawn on e4.

Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit, Stummer GambitA45

1. d4 Nf6 2. g4 Nxg4 3. e4 d6 4. Be2 Nf6 5. Nc3

Knights VariationA46

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3

Czech-IndianA46

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c6

• 2... c6 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn. Theory calls this the Czech-Indian.

Knights Variation, Alburt-Miles VariationA46

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 a6

• 2... a6 A useful waiting move that keeps the structure flexible on the a-file. Theory calls this the Alburt-Miles Variation.

Polish VariationA46

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b5

• 2... b5 Opens the c8-a6 diagonal for the bishop. Theory calls this the Polish Variation.

Spielmann-IndianA46

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5

Wade-Tartakower DefenseA46

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6

• 2... d6 Supports the centre, adding control of e5. Theory calls this the Wade-Tartakower Defense.

London SystemA46

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4

• 2... e6 Supports the centre, adding control of d5.

Schnepper GambitA47

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. c3 e5

The pawns on d4 and e5 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure.

• 2... b6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via b7. Theory calls this the Pseudo Queen's Indian Defense.

Colle System, King's Indian VariationA48

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Bd3 d6

Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal.

• 2... g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g7. Theory calls this the East Indian Defense.

Przepiorka VariationA49

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3

Normal VariationA50

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4

Medusa GambitA50

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g5

• 2... g5 Opens the f8-h6 diagonal for the bishop. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Medusa Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Pyrenees GambitA50

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 b5

• 2... b5 Challenges the pawn on c4 - the central tension has to resolve. The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Pyrenees Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Budapest GambitA51

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5

• 2... e5 The pawn is genuinely on offer - this is the Budapest Gambit: development and initiative over material.

Budapest Gambit AcceptedA51

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5

An early pawn trade leaves the d-file as White's avenue and the e-file as Black's - both sides get real winning chances down their own file. White is up material out of the opening - Black is banking on activity to show for it.

Budapest Gambit Accepted, Fajarowicz DefenseA51

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ne4

Budapest Gambit Accepted, Fajarowicz Defense, Bonsdorf VariationA51

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ne4 4. a3

Budapest Gambit Accepted, Fajarowicz Defense, Steiner VariationA51

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ne4 4. Qc2

Budapest Gambit Accepted, Main LineA52

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4

Budapest Gambit Accepted, Main Line, Adler VariationA52

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3

Budapest Gambit Accepted, Main Line, Alekhine VariationA52

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4

White has doubled pawns on the e-file.

Budapest Gambit Accepted, Main Line, Rubinstein VariationA52

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Bf4

Budapest Gambit Accepted, Main Line, Alekhine Variation, Abonyi VariationA52

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 Nxe5

Budapest Gambit Accepted, Main Line, Alekhine Variation, Tartakower DefenseA52

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 d6

Devin GambitE00

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g4

Main line, after 2. c4E00

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Qb3

Seirawan AttackE00

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Bg5

Anti-Nimzo-IndianE10

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3

Dzindzi-Indian DefenseE10

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 a6

Döry IndianE10

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Ne4

West Indian DefenseE60

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6

• 2... g6 Theory calls this the West Indian Defense.

Anti-Grünfeld, Advance VariationE60

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. d5

Anti-Grünfeld, Alekhine VariationE60

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3

Anti-Grünfeld, Basman-Williams AttackE60

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. h4

Anti-Grünfeld, Adorjan GambitE60

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. d5 b5

Anti-Grünfeld, Alekhine Variation, Leko GambitE60

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 e5

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