ECO A55 · Old Indian Defense

Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. e4 e5 5. Nf3

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

5… g6+0.59

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation (A55), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. e4 e5 5. Nf3, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… g6 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.59).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.595… g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Qc2 Re8 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Nxe5
  2. +0.755… Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. Qc2 Re8 8. d5 Nf8 9. h3 Ng6 10. Be3
  3. +0.755… b6 6. Qc2 Bb7 7. d5 a5 8. Be3 Ng4 9. Bd2 Nc5 10. Be2

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. e4 e5 5. Nf3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… g6 for Black, continuing 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. Qc2 Re8 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Nxe5. White is slightly better (+0.59). The next best moves are 5… Be7 (+0.75) and 5… b6 (+0.75).
Is the Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.59: 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: Normal Variation?
A55. 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+).