ECO E60 · Indian Defense

Indian Defense: West Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3. Nc3+0.40

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Indian Defense: West Indian Defense (E60), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. Nc3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.40).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.403. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Bg7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O Bg4
  2. +0.393. Nf3 c6 4. Nc3 d5 5. e3 Bg7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O a5
  3. +0.233. h4 c6 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Bg5 Ne4 7. e3 Nc6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Indian Defense: West Indian Defense?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. Nc3 for White, continuing d5 4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Bg7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O Bg4. White is slightly better (+0.40). The next best moves are 3. Nf3 (+0.39) and 3. h4 (+0.23).
Is the Indian Defense: West Indian Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.40: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Indian Defense: West Indian Defense?
E60. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; E is the volume for indian defenses.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).