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Bogo-Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ · E11

Part of Indian Defense

Starting positionWhite to move

0 / 14

A check that only asks for equality

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The idea

Black checks on b4 with the bishop, forcing White to block and then trading it off — an unambitious but very hard-to-beat system.

Main line: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 5.g3 O-O 6.Bg2 d6 7.O-O Bxd2

What White wants

  • Use Bd2 to offer a bishop trade, or Nbd2 to retain two bishops if Black exchanges
  • Develop with g3, Bg2 and O-O and press on the centre
  • Play for a small edge without taking risks

What Black wants

  • Trade on d2 to keep the position balanced
  • Fianchetto or hold the centre with ...d6 and ...e5
  • Reach a sound, slightly passive middlegame

Key idea

Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.

A check that only asks for equality

Bb4+ does not win anything — it forces White to choose between Bd2, Nbd2 and Nc3, and Black adjusts to whichever is played. It is a low-risk way to get a playable game with Black.

Common mistake

Choosing a block without recognising the transposition. Nc3 is a sound option, but enters Nimzo-Indian territory and allows a pin; Bd2 and Nbd2 lead to different exchanges. Choose for the resulting centre, not because one block looks most natural.

Representative position

The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.

rnb2rk1/ppp1qppp/3ppn2/8/2PP4/5NP1/PP1bPPBP/RN1Q1RK1 w - - 0 8

Analyze this position

Related openings

Indian Defense1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O · A45–A79, D70–D99, E00–E99The family name for every defence where Black develops the knight to f6 first and decides later whether the centre will be blocked, undermined or handed over.Queen's Indian Defense1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 · E12–E19Black fianchettoes the queen's bishop and challenges e4 along the long diagonal — solid, principled and a lifetime's work to master.Nimzo-Indian Defense1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O · E20–E59Black pins the knight on c3 and fights for e4 with pieces rather than pawns — one of the most respected defences in all of chess.Queen's Gambit Declined1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 · D30–D69Black holds d5 with ...e6 and accepts a slightly cramped but extremely solid position — the classical answer to 1.d4 for over a century.King's Indian Defense1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 · E60–E99Black lets White build a huge centre and then attacks it with a kingside pawn storm — the most combative defence to 1.d4 in existence.Grünfeld Defense1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 · D70–D99Black strikes at the centre immediately with ...d5 and lets White build an enormous pawn mass, planning to destroy it from the flanks.