The Old Indian Defense is a chess opening defined by the moves:

Old Indian Defense
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a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
b7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
e7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
d6 black pawn
f6 black knight
c4 white pawn
d4 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
g1 white knight
h1 white rook
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Moves1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6
ECOA53–A55
ParentIndian Defence
Synonym(s)Chigorin Indian
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 d6

This opening is distinguished from the King's Indian Defense in that Black develops their king's bishop on e7 rather than by fianchetto on g7. Mikhail Chigorin pioneered this defense late in his career.

The Old Indian is considered sound, though developing the bishop at e7 is less active than the fianchetto, and it has never attained the popularity of the King's Indian. Some King's Indian players will use the Old Indian to avoid certain anti-King's Indian systems, such as the Sämisch and Averbakh Variations.

The opening is classified in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings with the codes A53–A55.

Main line: 3.Nc3 e5

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Main line: 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.e4

The Main line, also known as the Ukrainian Variation, arises after 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.e4; White can also play 4.dxe5 dxe5 5.Qxd8+, but despite the displacement of Black's king, this has long been known[by whom?] to offer no advantage, e.g. 5...Kxd8 6.Nf3 Nfd7!, with Black often following up with some combination of ...c6, ...Kd8–c7, ...a5, ...Na6, and ...f6. Black's position is solid and their piece coordination is good; White's pawn exchange in the center has allowed Black equal space and freed the f8-bishop. After 5...Be7 6.Be2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Re1 (or 8.Be3), White stands slightly better.

Janowski Variation: 3.Nc3 Bf5

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Janowski Variation: 3.Nc3 Bf5

The Janowski Variation, 3.Nc3 Bf5, was first introduced by Dawid Janowski in the 1920s. The idea behind it is that 3...Bf5 prevents White from immediately grabbing space with 4.e4. The variation did not gain much popularity until the 1980s. Several top-level players have employed the line multiple times, including Mikhail Tal, Bent Larsen, Florin Gheorghiu, and Kamran Shirazi.

3.Nf3

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Or via the transposition 2.Nf3 d6 3.c4. Now:

  • 3...Bg4 (Tartakower-Indian Variation) is suggested by de Firmian.
  • 3...c6 (Czech Variation) and 3...Bf5 are possible.
  • 3...g6 will likely transpose to the King's Indian Defence.
  • 3...Nbd7 4.Nc3 will likely transpose to the Main line.

See also

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Further reading

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  • Komarov, Dmitry; Djuric, Stefan; Pantaleoni, Claudio (2009). Chess Opening Essentials, Vol. 3: Indian Defences. New In Chess. ISBN 978-90-5691-270-3.
  • Pickett, L. (1984). The Old Indian Renewed. Nottingham: The Chess Player. ISBN 978-0906042533.