Bogo-Indian Defense

Why the Bogo-Indian Defense is worth training

The Bogo-Indian Defense starts with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+. When White avoids the Nimzo-Indian with 3.Nf3, Black still gets the bishop to b4, this time with check. White has to block on d2, and Black often trades the dark-squared bishop once it has cost White a tempo.

Chessmate has a Bogo-Indian Defense course for White and a Bogo-Indian Defense course for Black. The White course blocks with 4.Bd2 and answers every main fourth move. The Black course plays 4...Qe7 against 4.Bd2 and has a plan for each other block.

The 4...Qe7 main line in the White sample line

4.Bd2 develops while it blocks the check and attacks the bishop. In the White sample line, Black defends with 4...Qe7, and White prepares the fianchetto with 5.g3. After 5...Bxd2+, White recaptures with the queen so the b1-knight can still go to c3.

After 6...Nc6 7.Nc3 d5 8.Bg2 O-O 9.O-O Rd8, White clears the center with 10.cxd5 exd5. The bishop on g2 presses on d5 along the long diagonal, and 11.Rfd1 lines up the rook against Black's center while the a1-rook stays ready for the queenside.

The course also covers 4...Qe7 with ...d6 and ...e5, and lines where Black takes on c4 and White wins the pawn back. Against 4...Bxd2+, White plays against both the ...d6 setup and the Queen's Gambit structure with ...d5. 4...a5 and 4...Be7 each get their own branch.

The 4...c5 trade and the Monticelli trap

Against 4...c5, White trades with 5.Bxb4 cxb4. The pawn on b4 is exposed, and White attacks it at once with 6.a3. After 6...bxa3 7.Nxa3, the knight is ready for b5 or c4, and later 11.d5 gains space in the center.

The Monticelli trap comes from the ...b6 and ...Bb7 setup. After 4...Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 b6 6.g3 Bb7 7.Bg2 O-O 8.Nc3 Ne4 9.Qc2 Nxc3, White does not take back. 10.Ng5 threatens Qxh7#, and the bishop on g2 now hits the loose bishop on b7. After 10...Ne4 11.Bxe4 Bxe4 12.Qxe4 Qxg5 13.Qxa8, White has won the exchange.

The Black sample line: ...Qe7 with ...Nc6 and ...d5

The Black course checks on b4 before White can play Nc3. After 4.Bd2, 4...Qe7 defends the bishop and keeps the d-pawn free, so Black can choose ...d5 or ...d6 after seeing White's setup.

In the sample line, Black gives up the bishop with 5...Bxd2+ once it has cost White a tempo. 6...Nc6 puts pressure on d4, and 7...d5 takes equal central space before White's pieces are ready. After castling and 9...Rd8, the rook faces White's queen. Following 10.cxd5 exd5, Black has active pieces and an open e-file.

Answers to 4.Nbd2, 4.Nc3, and other tries

Inside 4.Bd2 Qe7, the Black course also covers recapturing with the knight on d2 and the plan with ...e5, pressure with ...Ne4 and ...Qb4+, and White's tries 5.a3, 5.Nc3, 5.e3, and 7.a3.

Against 4.Nbd2, Black retreats with 4...Be7, since the knight on d2 blocks White's own bishop. If White plays 5.e4 d5 6.e5, Black goes 6...Nfd7 and hits d4 with ...c5 and ...Nc6. The course also covers 4.Nbd2 with a fianchetto, 4.Nc3 going into a Nimzo-Indian structure, and 4.Nfd2.

There is a trap for White as well. 4.Qd2 blocks the check with the queen, but 4...Bxd2+ simply takes it. The Black course trains how to play the position with the extra queen.

What to train first

Pick the course that matches the side you play.

• If you meet the Bogo-Indian with White, start with the Bogo-Indian Defense course for White. Learn the 4...Qe7 sample line, then the answer to 4...c5 and the Monticelli trap.
• If you play the Bogo-Indian with Black, start with the Bogo-Indian Defense course for Black. Learn the 4...Qe7 sample line, then the answer to 4.Nbd2.
• With either color, notice when the trade on d2 happens and which piece recaptures. That choice decides how White develops the queenside.

The Bogo-Indian rewards knowing when to give up the bishop. Train the lines until you can tell whether ...Bxd2+ has cost White a tempo or handed White an easy game.