Old Indian Defense

1.d4 d6 2.c4

ECO A41

The Old Indian Defense is a chess opening reached after 1.d4 d6 2.c4, catalogued under code A41 in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO).

The defining move c4 is chosen by White on move 2.

9 named continuations branch from this position, including the Aged Gibbon Gambit and the with Nc3.

Named variations

• Old Indian Defense: Aged Gibbon Gambit — ECO A53
• Old Indian Defense: Czech Variation, with Nc3 — ECO A53
• Old Indian Defense: Czech Variation, with Nf3 — ECO A53
• Old Indian Defense: Janowski Variation — ECO A53
• Old Indian Defense: Duz-Khotimirsky Variation — ECO A54
• Old Indian Defense: Tartakower-Indian — ECO A54
• Old Indian Defense: Two Knights Variation — ECO A54
• Old Indian Defense: Ukrainian Variation — ECO A54
• Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation — ECO A55

Study this line with a grandmaster

This position is covered in the Modern Defense course: a GM-authored repertoire you study move by move, then practice against a human-like AI opponent.

Every chess term used here is defined in the chess terms glossary. Browse all opening courses or the full ECO code index.