Openings 1.d4 Nf6: Indian defenses
Bogo-Indian Defense (3...Bb4+): 4.Bd2, 4.Nbd2 and Stats by Rating
3...Bb4+ is the Nimzo-Indian bishop move played against 3.Nf3: with no knight on c3 yet, it comes with check. White blocks with the bishop or the knight, and Black usually trades the bishop or drops it back once White has spent time. It is a quiet, solid choice.
E11Bogo-Indian Defense
Games from this position (1600–1999): 2,423
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
| Move | Played | Games | White · Draw · Black |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56% | 1,361 | ||
| 32% | 777 | ||
| 12% | 285 |
Plans for both sides
White
- 4.Bd2 is the main move; against 4...Qe7, g3, Bg2 and O-O give a pleasant space edge.
- 4.Nbd2 keeps the bishops and prepares a3 to win the bishop pair.
- 4.Nc3 turns the game into a Nimzo-Indian.
Black
- 4...Qe7 holds the b4 bishop and prepares ...Nc6 and ...e5 or ...d6.
- 4...Bxd2+ is the simplest: trade the bishop and play ...d5 or ...d6 for an easy game.
- 4...a5 keeps the bishop on b4 and prepares a ...d5 setup.
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Bogo-Indian Defense at each rating
How often the position after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.
| Rating | Games (Share of games) | White · Draw · Black | Top next move |
|---|---|---|---|
| <1200 | 134<0.1% | 4.Bd254% | |
| 1200–1599 | 736<0.1% | 4.Bd251% | |
| 1600–1999 | 2,423<0.1% | 4.Bd256% | |
| 2000+ | 3,8230.2% | 4.Bd259% | |
| All | 7,116<0.1% | 4.Bd257% |
What usually comes next
The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.
Main variations
Black trades on d2 at the right moment and builds ...d6 and ...e5; White answers with e3 or d5.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Bxd2+ 7.Nbxd2 d6 8.O-O e5The simplest line. Black castles and plays ...d5 or ...d6 for a solid position.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 O-O 6.Nc3 d5The a-pawn keeps the bishop on b4; Black often follows with ...d5 and ...c6.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 a5 5.g3 d5White plans a3 to win the bishop pair. Black drops back and hits the center with ...d5.
Too rare in our data for numbers.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 O-O 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 d5White blocks with the knight, and the game becomes a Nimzo-Indian with Nf3. The Nimzo-Indian has its own guide.
7,565 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 48%, 5% were drawn, Black won 47%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nc3
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At club level
Below 2000, 4...Bxd2+ is the most common answer to 4.Bd2, chosen by about two in three players at 1200 to 1599. At 2000+ 4...Qe7 takes over at about 39%, and 4.Nbd2 rises to about three in ten. White scores about 53% after 3...Bb4+.
Practice it
The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.
Related openings
- Indian Defense: 1.d4 Nf6
1.d4 Nf6
- King’s Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6
- Nimzo-Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
- Old Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6
- Trompowsky Attack
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5
- Budapest Gambit
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5