Indian Defense: all variations and ECO codes

53 named lines across 12 ECO codes (A43–E60), spanning ECO volumes A, E. Source: the CC0-licensed lichess.org opening database.

The idea

Not one specific system but the shared starting point for the hypermodern family of replies to 1.d4 that delay ...d5: Black develops the knight first and waits to see whether White commits to c4, Nf3, or an early Bg5 before choosing among the King’s Indian, Nimzo-Indian, Queen’s Indian, Grünfeld, or one of several less common setups gathered under this family’s own broader ECO range.

The main line

Position after 1.d4 Nf6 (A45). Open this line on Lichess → · Indian Defense on Lichess

How the main line scores at your rating

Real Lichess win rates for 1.d4 Nf6, playing as black: the family’s other variations are not separately tracked for win rate yet, main line only.

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Win/draw/loss rate by rating band
Rating bandGamesWhite / draw / BlackScore for black
1400-1600 5,156 White/draw/black: 49.0% / 3.6% / 47.3% 49.0% / 3.6% / 47.3% 49.1%
1600-1800 7,603 White/draw/black: 49.0% / 4.2% / 46.8% 49.0% / 4.2% / 46.8% 48.9%
1800-2000 9,899 White/draw/black: 48.9% / 4.7% / 46.5% 48.9% / 4.7% / 46.5% 48.8%
2000+ 12,876 White/draw/black: 48.2% / 7.2% / 44.6% 48.2% / 7.2% / 44.6% 48.2%

All 53 named variations

Every named line in the Indian Defense family, from the CC0-licensed ECO classification: not separately tracked for win rate, but every ECO code and move sequence is real, sourced data.

Browse more

ECO Volume A: Flank Openings → · All ECO families → · Search and play every line in the interactive explorer →

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