Old Indian Defense

Why the Old Indian Defense is worth training

The Old Indian Defense starts with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6. Black prepares ...e5 and usually develops the dark-squared bishop to e7 instead of fianchettoing it as in the King's Indian. Black builds a compact pawn chain on d6 and e5, develops behind it, and later chooses between exchanging on d4 and expanding with ...c6 or ...f5.

Chessmate has an Old Indian Defense course for White and an Old Indian Defense course for Black. The White course has six lines covering the classical ...c6 setup, the early exchange on d4, and Black's sidelines, and the Black course has fourteen lines built around ...Nbd7, ...e5, and ...Be7.

The classical sample line for White

In the White sample line, Black plays 3...e5 and 4...Nbd7, and White builds the broad center with 5.e4. After 5...c6 6.Be2 Qc7 7.O-O Be7, both sides finish development behind a tense center.

White supports e4 with 8.Qc2, which also clears d1 for a rook. After 8...O-O, White takes g4 away from Black's bishop with 9.h3. Black regroups with 9...Re8 10.Be3 Nf8, and White puts a rook behind d4 with 11.Rfd1. White keeps the choice between exchanging on e5 and closing the center with d5.

The Qe8 and Bd8 regroup for Black

The Black sample line uses the classical move order 3...Nbd7 4.e4 e5 5.Nf3 Be7. The knight on d7 supports e5 and blocks the d-file, so an early exchange on e5 does not allow a queen trade with check. Black castles and plays 7...c6 to reinforce the center.

After 8.h3, Black starts a regroup. 8...Qe8 clears d8, 9.Re1 Bd8 frees e7, and 10.Bf1 Qe7 brings the queen back to defend e5. Following 11.b3 Re8 12.Bb2 Bb6, the bishop pressures d4. After 13.Qd2, Black exchanges with 13...exd4 14.Nxd4 Nc5, and the knight attacks e4.

The exchange on d4 and other White lines

When Black exchanges early with 4...exd4, White recaptures with 5.Nxd4 and builds the center with 6.e4. After 7...Nc6 8.Be3 Nxd4 9.Bxd4, the bishop takes an active central diagonal. White answers 9...Nd7 with 10.Nd5, and after 10...Nc5 reinforces e4 with 11.f3.

The course also covers Black's other tries. Against the early 3...Bf5, White prepares g4 with 4.h3, trades queens with 6.Qxd8+ Kxd8, and drives the bishop away with 7.g4. Against 3...c6 and 4...Qc7, White closes the center with 6.d5. Against 4...e4, White attacks the pawn with 5.Ng5 and 6.Qc2, then challenges it with 8.f3. Another line shows when White should close the center with 10.d5 after finishing development.

Black's answers to d5, Nge2, and the fianchetto

When White closes the center early with 5.d5, Black puts a knight on c5 with 5...Nc5 and holds it there with ...a5. In the main position, 6.f3 a5 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qd2 h6, Black prepares ...Nh7 and ...Bg5 to trade the dark-squared bishops. Another line covers White castling queenside, where Black counterattacks with 11...a4 and 12...Qa5.

Against the Sämisch-style 5.Nge2, Black plays 5...c6 and ...Be7, and the course shows how to punish 8.Qd2 with the 8...d5 break. Against the fianchetto with 4.g3, Black castles, plays ...c6 and ...Re8, exchanges on d4, and brings the knight to c5. The course also covers 6.Bg5, 4.e3, 5.dxe5, and how to accept the Aged Gibbon Gambit 3.g4 safely.

What to train first

Pick the course for the color you play.

• If you face the Old Indian Defense as White, start with the Old Indian Defense course for White. Learn the classical sample line first, then the exchange line with 10.Nd5 and the early 3...Bf5.
• If you play the Old Indian Defense as Black, start with the Old Indian Defense course for Black. Learn the Qe8 and Bd8 regroup first, then the 5.d5 lines with the knight on c5.
• Whichever side you play, watch the tension between d4 and e5. Black has to choose the moment for ...exd4, and White has to choose between d5 and an exchange on e5.

The Old Indian Defense gives Black a solid, compact position and gives White more space. Train the lines until you know when to keep the tension and when to resolve it.