Chessy
Old Indian Defense: Complete Guide
A solid, old-fashioned setup — Black answers 1.d4 with Nf6 and d6, developing naturally before deciding on a fianchetto. Drill every main line against an adaptive engine, backed by real Lichess win rates and Stockfish evaluations.
Play the main line: Old Indian Defense
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Create a free account →All 12 variations of the Old Indian Defense
Openings & Plans
Old Indian Defense
ECO A53
4M games
Openings & Plans
Old Indian Defense: Nf3
ECO A53
717K games
Openings & Plans
Old Indian Defense: Czech Variation, with Nc3
ECO A53
512K games
Openings & Plans
Old Indian Defense: e3
ECO A53
326K games
Openings & Plans
Old Indian Defense: Janowski Variation
ECO A53
183K games
Openings & Plans
Old Indian Defense: Czech Variation, with Nf3
ECO A53
159K games
Openings & Plans
Old Indian Defense: Ukrainian Variation
ECO A54
155K games
Openings & Plans
Old Indian Defense: Nc3
ECO A53
155K games
Openings & Plans
Old Indian Defense: Tartakower-Indian
ECO A54
85K games
Openings & Plans
Old Indian Defense: Bg5
ECO A53
6K games
Openings & Plans
Old Indian Defense: g3
ECO A53
3K games
Gambits
Old Indian Defense: Aged Gibbon Gambit
ECO A53
386 games
Frequently asked questions about the Old Indian Defense
What is the old indian in chess?
The Old Indian is a chess opening family with 12 variations covered on Chessy. Over 7 million Lichess games have reached these positions across all rating levels.