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Chess Openings - The Indian Defenses

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The Indian Defenses begin with the moves:
1. d4 Nf6

The Indian Defenses are an opening class characterized by the moves 1. d4 Nf6. Rather than follow white's lead in the Queen's Pawn Opening, black chooses to respond in an unsymmetrical way. The name comes from a version of chess played in India that does not allow the double pawn move. As a result, this type of knight development is seen much more often.

The Indian Defenses fall into the hypermodern school. White is allowed to amass an intimidating force in the centre. Black will try to undermine this centre and ultimately destroy it.


How Common are The Indian Defenses?

Green Flag

Very Common at the Master Level

Green Flag

Common at the Novice Level

As was seen in the King's Pawn Opening, it is more popular for black to respond unsymmetrical when facing the Queen's Pawn Opening. Black plays an Indian Defense about 60% of the time. If you are a d4 player, you must be prepared to face both d5, and the Indian Defenses.


White's Next Move

White's next move is usually 2. c4 (75% probability). This leads into a large number of important systems and variations that fall under the umbrella of the Indian Defenses. We'll take a look at three well known and popular lines: the Nimzo Indian Defense, the King's Indian Defense, and the Queen's Indian Defense.


Back - Next
Chess Openings - Table of Contents
Introduction
Open Games - Centre Game - King's Gambit - Bishop's Opening - Vienna Game - King's Knight Opening - Spanish Game (Ruy Lopez) - Italian Game - Scotch Game - Philidor Defense - Petrov Defense
Semi-Open Defenses - Scandinavian Defense - French Defense - Caro-Kann Defense - Sicilian Defense - Alekhine Defense - Modern & Pirc Defense
Closed Games - Queen's Gambit
Indian Defenses - Nimzo-Indian Defense - King's Indian Defense - Queen's Indian Defense
Flank Openings - Reti Opening - English Opening - Bird's Opening
Conclusion