Old Indian Defense

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 rd b8 nd c8 bd d8 qd e8 kd f8 bd g8 h8 rd Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 pd b7 pd c7 pd d7 e7 pd f7 pd g7 pd h7 pd
a6 b6 c6 d6 pd e6 f6 nd g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 pl d4 pl e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 pl b2 pl c2 d2 e2 pl f2 pl g2 pl h2 pl
a1 rl b1 nl c1 bl d1 ql e1 kl f1 bl g1 nl h1 rl
Image:chess zhor 26.png

The Old Indian Defense is a chess opening. It is defined by the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6, and is distinguished from the King's Indian Defense by Black developing his king's bishop on e7 rather than fianchettoing it at g7.

The Old Indian Defense is considered to be sound, but since not fianchettoing the bishop makes the Old Indian more passive than the King's Indian, it is less popular. The opening is classified in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO) with the codes A53-A55.

[edit] Variations

Image:chess zhor 22.png
Image:chess zver 22.png a8 rd b8 c8 bd d8 qd e8 kd f8 bd g8 h8 rd Image:chess zver 22.png
a7 pd b7 pd c7 pd d7 nd e7 f7 pd g7 pd h7 pd
a6 b6 c6 d6 pd e6 f6 nd g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 pd f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 pl d4 pl e4 pl f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 nl d3 e3 f3 nl g3 h3
a2 pl b2 pl c2 d2 e2 f2 pl g2 pl h2 pl
a1 rl b1 c1 bl d1 ql e1 kl f1 bl g1 h1 rl
Image:chess zhor 22.png
Old Indian - Mainline
Image:chess zhor 22.png
Image:chess zver 22.png a8 rd b8 nd c8 d8 qd e8 kd f8 bd g8 h8 rd Image:chess zver 22.png
a7 pd b7 pd c7 pd d7 e7 pd f7 pd g7 pd h7 pd
a6 b6 c6 d6 pd e6 f6 nd g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 bd g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 pl d4 pl e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 nl d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 pl b2 pl c2 d2 e2 pl f2 pl g2 pl h2 pl
a1 rl b1 c1 bl d1 ql e1 kl f1 bl g1 nl h1 rl
Image:chess zhor 22.png
The Janowski Variation


[edit] Mainline

The mainline of the opening is 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.e4.

[edit] Janowski Variation

The "Janowski Indian Defense" is 3.Nc3 Bf5, and was first introduced by Dawid Janowski in the 1920s, although it did not gain much popularity until the 1980s. Several well known players have employed the opening multiple times including Mikhail Tal, Bent Larsen, and Florin Gheorghiu.

The idea behind the variation is that by playing 3...Bf5, Black prevents White from playing the space grabbing 4.e4.

[edit] Further reading

  • The Old Indian Renewed, Pickett, The Chess Player (Nottingham) 1984, ISBN 0906042534