Chessy
Indian Defense: Accelerated London System with g6 — A Complete Guide for White
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3, you've entered the Indian Defense: Accelerated London System with an early g6 from Black. The engine rates this position at +0.08 — practically dead level, meaning neither side has a meaningful advantage yet. White scores a healthy 51.7% across over 1,470,738 games, so you're in solid territory. The drill below will let you practice this exact position against an adapting engine, sharpening your responses to Black's most common tries. Let's break down what matters here.
Play the Indian Defense: Accelerated London System: g6 against the engine
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Create a free account →The Main Idea: What You're Fighting For
This position is all about central space and piece activity. Black has committed to a kingside fianchetto with ...g6, eyeing the long diagonal and preparing ...Bg7. Your setup with Bf4 and Nc3 keeps the centre flexible — you haven't committed your e-pawn yet, which is a key feature of the Accelerated London. You're fighting for the right to push e2-e4 or e2-e3 depending on how Black reacts. The engine's top recommendation is 3...d5, leading to 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e3, a solid, harmonious setup where you control the centre with pawns on d4 and e3, your light-squared bishop can develop naturally, and your king will castle short. Even if Black chooses something else, your plan remains: develop quickly, maintain the pawn centre, and keep an eye on Black's unopposed dark-squared bishop after ...Bg7.
The Critical Moment: Black's First Move Choice
Black has several options here, and the statistics reveal which ones are dangerous — and which ones are gifts. The overwhelmingly most popular move is 3...Bg7 (1,204,597 games), where White scores a solid 51.9%. That's a perfectly normal continuation. The engine's preferred reply for Black, however, is 3...d5. That's the line that keeps the game equal at +0.08. Now here's where you can gain: Black's inaccuracies in this position all involve failing to play ...d5. If your opponent plays 3...d6, 3...a6, or 3...c6, they've made an inaccuracy — each one loses between 0.5 and 0.8 pawns of equity. That's a meaningful edge you can press.
Exploiting Black's Inaccuracies
Here are the three inaccuracies the engine flags, all of which give you a better position: - 3...d6 (125,580 games, loses ~0.5 pawns). Black delays central action and allows you to seize space. Your plan: keep developing naturally — Nf3, e3 or e4, and you'll enjoy a comfortable edge. - 3...a6 (14,519 games, loses ~0.8 pawns). This move does nothing for the centre. You should punish it by grabbing space with e4 or preparing d5 yourself. Black will regret the wasted tempo. - 3...c6 (12,964 games, loses ~0.6 pawns). Black prepares ...d5 but in a roundabout way. You can strike immediately in the centre with e4 or simply continue development — your lead in activity will tell. Each of these mistakes gives you a cleaner position than you deserve from the starting setup. Watch for them — your opponent might hand you an edge before move 5.
How to Handle Black's Best Reply: 3...d5
If Black plays the engine-recommended 3...d5, you're following the main line: 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e3. This is a quiet, positional struggle where small advantages matter. White scores 48.8% from here across 91,169 games — slightly below the overall average, which makes sense because this is Black's most accurate continuation. Don't panic: the game is still level. Your goals are: complete development — develop your remaining pieces, castle quickly, and keep your centre solid. Black's bishop on g7 is a long-term asset, but your solid pawn chain limits its scope. The middlegame will revolve around who breaks the centre first — often White with e3-e4 or c2-c4, or Black with ...c5 or ...e5.
Results across 1,470,738 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Bg7 | 1,204,597 | 51.9% |
| d6 | 125,580 | 51.9% |
| d5 | 91,169 | 48.8% |
| a6 | 14,519 | 53.1% |
| c6 | 12,964 | 51.5% |
| c5 | 7,534 | 46.4% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Accelerated London System g6 good for White?
Yes — White scores 51.7% from this position across 1,470,738 games, with only 3.6% draws. The engine evaluation is +0.08, which is dead level, meaning the opening is perfectly sound. Your practical winning chances are slightly above average thanks to the many inaccuracies Black can fall into.
What should I do if Black plays 3...d6 in the Accelerated London g6?
Black's 3...d6 is an inaccuracy that loses about 0.5 pawns. You should respond by calmly developing — Nf3, e3 or e4 — and enjoying your space advantage. Black has failed to challenge your centre, and you can build up pressure without risk.
Why is 3...d5 the best move for Black here?
The engine recommends 3...d5 because it immediately stakes a claim in the centre and fights for space. After 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e3, the game is equal and both sides have clear development plans. Black avoids the inaccuracies of passive or irrelevant moves like ...d6, ...a6, or ...c6.
What is my plan after 3...Bg7 in the Accelerated London?
After 3...Bg7, White scores 51.9% — so you're doing well. Develop naturally with Nf3, then e3 to shore up your centre. Keep your pawn structure intact and avoid overpushing. Your eventual break will likely be e3-e4 or c2-c4, depending on how Black sets up.
How many games feature the Indian Defense: Accelerated London System: g6?
Over 1 million Lichess games have reached the Indian Defense: Accelerated London System: g6 position. White wins 51.7%, Black wins 44.7%, with 3.6% draws — based on real rated games.