Openings
- Chess Atlas Subsections
- VOL. I • Chess HistoryFrom Chaturanga to Neural Engines
- VOL. II • Classic ChessPieces, Notation & Rules
- VOL. III • Legendary PlayersPantheon of Chess Immortals
- VOL. IV • Great GamesInteractive game studies
- VOL. V • OpeningsOriginal CAISSORA Opening Articles
- VOL. VI • Tactics & StrategyForks, Pins & Board Geometry
East Indian Defense
The King's Indian, minus the c4 for now
- Fianchetto
- Hypermodern
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 Black aims the bishop at g7 while White has not yet played c4. If White plays it later, it is a King's Indian. If not, White has plenty of choice: a matching fianchetto, the Torre, the London or Nc3. The opening is often seen as a branch of the King's Indian.
5…d6
Moves
(10 plies • 5 moves)- 1–5moves
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
Defining move
2…g6 — the fianchetto before c4
The move that makes it East Indian
The g6 pawn prepares the bishop on g7, with its long diagonal, and castling. Black plays as in the King's Indian, but White has not yet committed to c4. So White picks the plan: Bg5, Bf4, g3 or Nc3.
Tabiya
The Przepiórka set-up: a mirrored fianchetto
Both kings are safe, and the bishops on g2 and g7 look down the long diagonals. White has no c4 pawn yet: playing it leads to a King's Indian. If White prepares e4 instead, a Pirc is possible. Until then Black must choose between …c5 and …e5, depending on White's set-up.
White’s plan
- Play g3 and Bg2, and c4 if wished, to head for a King's Indian.
- Choose a set-up without c4: the Torre (Bg5) or the London (Bf4).
- Prepare e4 with Nc3 or Nbd2.
Black’s plan
- Complete the fianchetto, castle and play …d6.
- Strike at the centre with …c5 or …e5, depending on White's set-up.
- Be ready for a King's Indian if White plays c4.
Games in the Atlas
No games in the Atlas yet