Old Indian Defense: all variations and ECO codes

14 named lines across 4 ECO codes (A41–A55). Source: the CC0-licensed lichess.org opening database.

The idea

Black builds a King’s Indian-style setup but keeps the bishop on c8 instead of fianchettoing it, developing it to e6 or g4 outside the pawn chain instead. It’s a more classical, less committal ancestor of the modern King’s Indian - out of favor at the top level today, but perfectly sound.

The main line

How the main line scores at your rating

Real Lichess win rates for 1.d4 d6 2.c4, playing as white: the family’s other variations are not separately tracked for win rate yet, main line only.

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All 14 named variations

Every named line in the Old 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.

• A41Old Indian Defense (main line)1.d4 d6 2.c4
• A53Old Indian Defense (main line)1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6
• A53Aged Gibbon Gambit1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.g4

• Czech Variation

  • A53with Nc31.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 c6
  • A53with Nf31.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nf3 c6
• A53Janowski Variation1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5
  • A53Fianchetto Variation1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 4.g3
  • A53Grinberg Gambit1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 4.e4
  • A53Main Line1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Bf5 4.f3
• A54Duz-Khotimirsky Variation1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 e5 4.e3 Nbd7 5.Bd3
• A54Tartakower-Indian1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nf3 Bg4
• A54Two Knights Variation1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3
• A54Ukrainian Variation1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 e5
• A55Normal Variation1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.e4 e5 5.Nf3

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