Old Indian Defense
1. d4 d6 2. c4
2… e5+0.33
White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.
Analyze this positionIn the Old Indian Defense (A41), reached after 1. d4 d6 2. c4, Stockfish 18 recommends 2… e5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.33).
Top engine moves
- +0.332… e5 3. e3 g6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Be2 exd4 6. exd4 Bg7 7. Nf3
- +0.472… Nf6 3. Nf3 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be3
- +0.492… g6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 exd4 5. Bg5 f6 6. Qxd4 Nc6 7. Qe3+
Other move orders
- 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6
All Old Indian Defense variations (12)
- Aged Gibbon GambitA531. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. g4
- Czech Variation, with Nc3A531. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 c6
- Czech Variation, with Nf3A531. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nf3 c6
- Janowski VariationA531. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Bf5
- Duz-Khotimirsky VariationA541. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 e5 4. e3 Nbd7 5. Bd3
- Tartakower-IndianA541. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nf3 Bg4
- Two Knights VariationA541. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3
- Ukrainian VariationA541. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 e5
- Normal VariationA551. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. e4 e5 5. Nf3
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move in the Old Indian Defense?
After 1. d4 d6 2. c4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 2… e5 for Black, continuing 3. e3 g6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Be2 exd4 6. exd4 Bg7 7. Nf3. White is slightly better (+0.33). The next best moves are 2… Nf6 (+0.47) and 2… g6 (+0.49).
Is the Old Indian Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.33: 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 Old Indian Defense?
A41. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.
Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).