Chessy
Zukertort Opening: Old Indian Attack as White
The Zukertort Opening: Old Indian Attack begins quietly, but the position is already balanced and ready for practical play. After 1.Nf3 d5 2.d3, it is Black to move, and your job is to stay flexible while waiting for the right moment to build your position. Stockfish rates this -0.13, a small edge for Black. That means you are slightly worse, so the drill below is about staying accurate, not forcing something that is not there.
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This opening does not promise a big edge for White, and that is the first thing to understand. The exact position after 1.Nf3 d5 2.d3 has been played in 1,658,612 games, and the results are very close: White wins 48.2%, draws 4.3%, and Black wins 47.5%. That is a sign of a balanced, practical opening where both sides can play for a full game. If you like flexible openings and positional chess, this is a sensible place to start.
What Black usually does
The most common reply is Nc6, and it is also the engine's best move here. The main continuation given is Nc6 d4 Bf5 a3, which shows that Black is trying to develop smoothly while White must decide how to organise the centre and pieces. Other popular replies are Nf6, c5, e6, Bg4, and Bf5. In the drill, pay attention to whether you can keep your position compact and avoid giving Black an easy initiative.
What the numbers say
The practical database confirms that this is a very even battleground. Nc6 appears in 530,442 games, with White scoring 47.4%. Nf6 has 277,099 games, with White scoring 47.3%. c5 appears in 223,065 games, with White scoring 47.9%, while e6 is the most encouraging of the common choices for White at 50.0%. Bg4 and Bf5 also stay close, with White scoring 48.4% and 49.1%. None of these replies gives White a free ride, so good development and patience matter more than memorising tricks.
How to handle the early middlegame
Because the position is so balanced, your focus should be on simple opening principles: develop your pieces, keep your king safe, and avoid drifting. White has not committed to a sharp pawn structure yet, so the opening is about choosing a good setup rather than calculating forcing lines. The best practical approach is to stay flexible and react well to Black's development. If you can do that, you are playing the opening in the spirit of the position.
Results across 1,658,612 Lichess games
| Most-played continuation | Games | White wins |
|---|---|---|
| Nc6 | 530,442 | 47.4% |
| Nf6 | 277,099 | 47.3% |
| c5 | 223,065 | 47.9% |
| e6 | 176,520 | 50.0% |
| Bg4 | 129,697 | 48.4% |
| Bf5 | 93,789 | 49.1% |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Zukertort Opening: Old Indian Attack good for White?
It is playable and very balanced, but it does not give White a big opening edge. The engine calls the position after 1.Nf3 d5 2.d3 dead level in practical terms, so it is more about sound play than trying to prove an advantage.
What is the main move for Black after 1.Nf3 d5 2.d3?
Nc6 is the most common reply and also the engine's best move here. It is followed in the main line by Nc6 d4 Bf5 a3, so you should be ready for sensible development rather than a tactical battle right away.
Which Black reply is the most popular?
Nc6 is the most played continuation, with 530,442 games. The other common replies are Nf6, c5, e6, Bg4, and Bf5, and all of them keep the position close to equal.
What should White aim for in this opening?
White should aim for calm, reliable development and good piece placement. Since the position is balanced, the priority is not to force an attack but to avoid inaccuracies and reach a comfortable middlegame.
How many games feature the Zukertort Opening: Old Indian Attack?
Over 2 million Lichess games have reached the Zukertort Opening: Old Indian Attack position. White wins 48.2%, Black wins 47.5%, with 4.3% draws — based on real rated games.