Chess opening · ECO A50

Indian Defense: Normal Variation

The Indian Defense: Normal Variation starts 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4. It ranks #14 of the 174 openings on this site by how often rated players on Lichess reach it.

The position after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4. Black to move.

Move by move

  1. 1. d4White pushes the d-pawn two squares to d4, staking a claim in the center.
  2. 1... Nf6Black develops the kingside knight to f6.
  3. 2. c4White pushes the c-pawn two squares to c4.

What players choose next, by rating

The three most common Black moves from this position in rated Lichess games, grouped by the rating of the player making the move. e6 is the most popular next move among players rated under 1200 and 2000 and up, though the favorite changes in between.

RatingMost commonSecondThird
Under 1200e6 31%d5 27%g6 22%
1200–1399e6 32%g6 23%d5 23%
1400–1599e6 36%g6 27%d5 13%
1600–1799e6 35%g6 30%e5 11%
1800–1999g6 33%e6 33%c5 13%
2000 and upe6 36%g6 29%c5 16%

Related openings

Indian DefenseThe line this one grows fromIndian Defense: West Indian DefenseA variation of this lineNimzo-Indian DefenseA variation of this lineBenoni DefenseA variation of this lineIndian Defense: Budapest GambitA variation of this lineQueen's Indian DefenseA variation of this lineCatalan OpeningA variation of this lineBogo-Indian DefenseA variation of this lineQueen's Gambit Declined: Exchange VariationA variation of this lineQueen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin DefenseA variation of this lineQueen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox DefenseA variation of this line

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