Chessy
Indian Defense: Budapest Defense, Fajarowicz Variation
The Indian Defense: Budapest Defense, Fajarowicz Variation begins with an immediate challenge to White’s centre, but the position after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 is not risk-free. Stockfish rates this +1.12, a clear, lasting advantage for White. That means you need accurate play and a good feel for the position’s tactics and piece activity. Use the drill below to learn the critical move, recognise the most common replies, and practise the setup Black is aiming for.
Play the Indian Defense: Budapest Defense, Fajarowicz Variation against the engine
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Create a free account →What the position is really about
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4, White to move has accepted the gambit and Black has already committed to active piece play. Your main practical task is not to “win back” material by force, but to keep the game moving and make White prove the extra pawn matters. This opening can be playable in practice, but the engine verdict is clear: White is better, and you should expect to defend a difficult position if White responds accurately.
The critical move the engine wants
In this exact position, the engine’s best move is a3. The suggested continuation is a3 Nc6 Nf3 g6. That is the setup to learn in the drill: meet White’s queen-side space-gaining ideas with calm development and piece activity. If you understand why this move is so strong, you will also understand why the more tempting White choices often let you fight on more comfortably.
What the database says White usually plays
The most-played continuation is Nf3, with 69,648 games and a White score of 51.3%. Other common moves are f3 with 20,536 games and a White score of 22.4%; Nc3 with 20,248 games and a White score of 51.7%; Qd4 with 15,164 games and a White score of 48.6%; Qc2 with 12,986 games and a White score of 52.4%; and e3 with 11,363 games and a White score of 49.2%. Across 193,330 games from this exact position, White wins 47.8%, draws 3.6%, and Black wins 48.6%.
The mistakes you want to punish
Some White moves are especially important to know because they are marked as errors here. f3 is a blunder and loses about 3.6 pawns; the better move was a3. Nc3 is an inaccuracy and loses about 0.8 pawns; again, a3 was better. Qd4 is a mistake and loses about 1.2 pawns; the better move was a3. When White chooses one of these, your job is to stay active and not let the game drift into passive defence.
Results across 193,330 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nf3 | 69,648 | 51.3% |
| f3 | 20,536 | 22.4% |
| Nc3 | 20,248 | 51.7% |
| Qd4 | 15,164 | 48.6% |
| Qc2 | 12,986 | 52.4% |
| e3 | 11,363 | 49.2% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Budapest Defense, Fajarowicz Variation good for Black?
It is playable, but this exact position is not fully equal. Stockfish gives **+1.12**, which is a clear, lasting advantage for White. If you choose it as Black, you need to know the key move and be ready for accurate defence.
What is the best move for Black to study here?
The engine’s best move is **a3**. The recommended continuation is **a3 Nc6 Nf3 g6**. That is the main setup to learn in the drill.
What should I expect White to play most often?
The most-played continuation is **Nf3**, with **69,648 games**. Other common replies are **f3**, **Nc3**, **Qd4**, **Qc2**, and **e3**. The drill helps you recognise these moves quickly.
Which White moves are the biggest problems?
The listed mistakes are **f3**, **Nc3**, and **Qd4**. **f3** is a blunder, **Nc3** is an inaccuracy, and **Qd4** is a mistake. In each case, the better move was **a3**.
How many games feature the Indian Defense: Budapest Defense, Fajarowicz Variation?
Over 193K Lichess games have reached the Indian Defense: Budapest Defense, Fajarowicz Variation position. White wins 47.8%, Black wins 48.6%, with 3.6% draws — based on real rated games.