Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6/2. c4

Indian Defence
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkb1r/pppppppp/5n2/8/2PP4/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR b
Moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4

Indian Defence

2. c4

2. c4 strengthens White's control of the center, particularly the important d5 square. It also allows White's queenside knight to develop to the active c3 square without blocking the c-pawn.

Black has a number of possibilities at this point:

• 2...e6 – This move is solid and flexible. Depending on how white plays, Black will end up in a Queen's Indian, Nimzo-Indian, Bogo-Indian, Queen's Gambit Declined, Benoni, or a Catalan.
• 2...g6 – This tends to be more aggressive (and riskier), though still solid if one knows the important strategic points. Black has the choice to move into a King's Indian Defence (KID) (regardless of white's play) or possibly a Grünfeld if White plays 3. Nc3 and Black wishes.
• 2...c5 – This will likely end up being a Benoni (often aggressive, risky), Benko Gambit (positional pawn sacrifice by Black on queenside), a symmetrical English (a bit quieter, but active pieces), or even a Tarrasch QGD (active for both sides).
• 2...d6 – This is the so-called "Old Indian," and it can either transpose into a KID or follow less popular lines with a strategy similar to the KID.
• 2...e5 – The Budapest Gambit. It has a unique character and often allows Black active play. White usually gives the pawn back eventually, and usually gets a slightly better position, but Black can do well against an unprepared opponent.
• 2...d5 – The Marshall Defence. This is not the best idea, though not an absolute trap. Several opening encyclopedias give this a clear advantage to White if played right.
• 2...c6 – The rare Slav Indian, looking for a transposition to the Slav Defence. White typically allows this with 3. Nc3 or 3. Nf3, but can refuse with 3. Bf4.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation..

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4

	2	3	4	5	6
King's Indian Defence	c4 g6	Nc3 Bg7	e4 d6	Nf3 O-O	Be2 e5	=
Grunfeld Defence	... ...	... d5	cxd5 Nxd5	e4 Nxc3	bxc3 Bg7	=
Benoni Defence	... c5	d5 e6	Nc3 exd5	cxd5 d6	e4 g6	+/=
Queen's Indian Defence	... e6	Nf3 b6	a3 Bb7	Nc3 d5	cxd5 Nxd5	+/=
Bogo-Indian Defence	... ...	... Bb4+	Bd2 Qe7	g3 Nc6	Nc3 Bxc3	+/=
Nimzo-Indian Defence	... ...	Nc3 Bb4	e3 O-O	Bd3 d5	Nf3 c5	=
Catalan Opening	... ...	g3 d5	Bg2 dxc4	Nf3 Be7	O-O O-O	=
Black Knights' Tango	... Nc6	Nf3 e6	a3 d6	Nc3 g6	e4 Bg7	+/=
Budapest Gambit	... e5	dxe5 Ng4	Bf4 Nc6	Nf3 Bb4+	Nbd2 Qe7	+=
Old Indian Defence	... d6	Nc3 e5	Nf3 Nbd7	e4 Be7		+/=
Marshall Defence	... d5	cxd5 Nxd5	Nf3 Bf5	Qb3		+/=

References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.