A50
Indian Defense
1. d4 Nf6
In the Indian Defense, aim to understand the plans and pawn structures, not just memorize the first moves.
The Indian Defense is a chess opening classified under ECO code A50. It is reached after the moves 1. d4 Nf6: 2 moves in, with White to play.
Learn its typical plans and pawn structures rather than memorizing moves — that’s what holds up over the board.
28 named variations branch from this position; the list at the end of the page goes one move deeper into each.
Play the Indian Defense? See where you go wrong.
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Analyze my games free →Variations of the Indian Defense
- Czech-Indian1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c6
- Knights Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3
- Knights Variation, Alburt-Miles Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 a6
- London System1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4
- Polish Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b5
- Spielmann-Indian1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5
- Wade-Tartakower Defense1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6
- Schnepper Gambit1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. c3 e5
- Colle System, King's Indian Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Bd3 d6
- Przepiorka Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3
- Medusa Gambit1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g5
- Normal Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. c4
- Pyrenees Gambit1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 b5
- Budapest Defense1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5
- Budapest Defense, Fajarowicz Defense, Bonsdorf Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ne4 4. a3 b6
- Budapest Defense, Fajarowicz Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ne4
- Budapest Defense, Fajarowicz-Steiner Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ne4 4. Qc2
- Budapest Defense, Adler Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3
- Budapest Defense, Alekhine Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4
- Budapest Defense, Alekhine Variation, Abonyi Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 Nxe5 5. f4 Nec6
- Budapest Defense, Alekhine Variation, Tartakower Defense1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 d6
- Budapest Defense, Rubinstein Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Bf4
- Anti-Grunfeld, Adorjan Gambit1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. d5 b5
- Anti-Grunfeld, Advance Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. d5
- Anti-Grunfeld, Alekhine Variation1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3
- Anti-Grunfeld, Alekhine Variation, Leko Gambit1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 e5
- Anti-Grunfeld, Basman-Williams Attack1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. h4
- West Indian Defense1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6
Related openings
Indian Defense: Czech-IndianIndian Defense: Knights VariationIndian Defense: Knights Variation, Alburt-Miles VariationIndian Defense: London SystemIndian Defense: Polish VariationIndian Defense: Spielmann-IndianIndian Defense: Wade-Tartakower DefenseIndian Defense: Schnepper GambitIndian Defense: Colle System, King's Indian VariationIndian Defense: Przepiorka Variation