Chessy
Old Indian Defense: Tartakower-Indian — Black to move
After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nf3 Bg4, White is already better, so your job is not to claim an advantage but to handle a position that asks for accuracy. The bishop move is active, but the resulting structure leaves you with a clear problem to solve. In the drill below, practise meeting White’s most common tries and learn how to keep the position playable instead of drifting into an unpleasant middlegame.
Play the Old Indian Defense: Tartakower-Indian against the engine
Free, no signup — you play black, the engine adapts to your level.
Play the drill and practise the defence move by move. Create a free account to track your progress and repeat the position until it feels natural.
Create a free account →A sharp start, but White gets the edge
This opening begins with active piece play, yet the current position is not comfortable for Black. Stockfish rates this +0.79, a clear advantage for White. That means you are worse here, and you need to treat the next few moves as a test of survival and clarity rather than a chance to seize the initiative. The key practical goal is to stay coordinated, avoid loosening your position further, and respond accurately to White’s natural developing moves.
What White tries most often
The database shows that White has several very natural continuations, and none of them lets you breathe easily. The most played move is Nc3, with 30,170 games, followed by e3, with 25,655 games. White also often chooses h3, Bg5, Nbd2, and g3. That tells you the position is a move-order battlefield where White can develop smoothly and keep asking questions. In the drill, focus on meeting these developing moves without creating new weaknesses.
The key reply to know
The engine’s best move is Nc3, and the line given continues with Nc3 g6 h3 Bxf3. That is the critical pattern to recognise in this opening. You should be ready for White’s most principled development and then answer with calm piece play rather than panic. The lesson here is simple: when White develops naturally, your defence has to be equally natural and precise.
What the numbers say about the position
Across 85,351 games at this exact position, White wins 51.2%, draws 4.3%, and Black wins 44.5%. Those numbers fit the engine verdict: White is doing better, and Black is fighting uphill. This does not mean the position is hopeless, but it does mean you should expect White to steer the game and you should be ready to defend accurately from the start. The drill is useful because it trains you to handle a position that is already slightly uncomfortable.
Results across 85,351 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nc3 | 30,170 | 51.9% |
| e3 | 25,655 | 51.3% |
| h3 | 6,557 | 50.6% |
| Bg5 | 5,287 | 49.3% |
| Nbd2 | 5,210 | 50.5% |
| g3 | 5,128 | 52.0% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Old Indian Defense: Tartakower-Indian good for Black?
In this exact position, the engine says White is better. Stockfish rates it +0.79, so Black is not equal and must play carefully. It is playable, but it is not an opening where you can expect an easy game.
What is White’s best move here?
The engine’s best move is Nc3. In the listed continuation, White develops naturally and keeps the pressure on Black. That is why this position is worth drilling: White’s main choices are simple and practical.
What moves does White play most often?
The most-played continuations are Nc3, e3, h3, Bg5, Nbd2, and g3. Nc3 is the most common, with 30,170 games, and e3 is next with 25,655 games. You should expect White to develop normally rather than go for a flashy tactic.
How should I think about this opening as Black?
Treat it as a position where you must defend well and stay coordinated. The statistics and engine both favour White, so your aim is to meet White’s development with accurate replies and avoid making the position worse. The drill helps you practise that exact skill.