Indian Game

• At a glance

  Indian Game

  129 games, 76.7%: against 1…Nf6, Wonderfultime plays 2.Nf3 and picks a setup based on Black's second move. The b4 pawn against …g6 and …d5, the e4 center against …Bg7, the f4 bishop against …e6.

  16 cards, one idea each. Swipe to move on.

• The big idea

  Your games: 187× · you score 73%

  After 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3, Wonderfultime avoids the theory of 2.c4. Against 2…g6, the knight goes to d2 and supports either e4 or a pawn on b4; against 2…e6, the bishop comes out to f4 before e3.

• The big idea

  Your games: 5× · you score 30%

  129 games, 76.7%, above the overall average. The dossier finds no recurring move that Stockfish disputes. One position holds out: 4…O-O 5.Bd3, 5 games, 30%.

• The big idea

  Your games: 5× · you score 80%

  The thread of the course: each setup answers a precise question. Where will Black break, …c5 or …e5? Which black bishop needs neutralizing?

• The big idea

  Your games: 5× · you score 80%

  The white moves in this course are the ones that ask the question first.

• Principle

  The b4 pawn takes away c5

  Your games: 16× · you score 81%

  Against …g6 and …d5, 5.b4 gains space and takes the c5 square away from Black: the …c5 break costs a pawn.

• Principle

  The d2 knight supports e4

  Your games: 19× · you score 74%

  Against 3…Bg7, the d2 knight guards e4: 4.e4 sets up two center pawns with no pin to fear.

• Principle

  The check that takes c6 from the knight

  Your games: 11× · you score 86%

  5.Bb5+ provokes …c6. With a pawn on c6, the b8 knight can no longer go to c6 to hit d4: it goes via d7.

• Principle

  The f4 bishop comes out before e3

  Your games: 51× · you score 73%

  Against 2…e6, 3.Bf4 places the bishop in front of the pawn chain. After e3, it will not be shut in.

• Principle

  The d3 bishop aims at h7

  Your games: 10× · you score 95%

  In the …d5 and …e6 structures, the d3 bishop aims at Black's castled king along the b1-h7 diagonal.

• Imbalance

  Queenside space against the g7 bishop

  Your games: 5× · you score 80%

  With b4 and c4, White owns the queenside. Black's g7 bishop aims at a1 down the long diagonal: Bb2 faces it.

• Imbalance

  Two center pawns against the …e5 break

  Your games: 7× · you score 57%

  With e4 and d4, White holds the center. Black hits it with …e5 or with …c5.

• Imbalance

  The bishop pair against the structure

  Your games: 6× · you score 92%

  After …Bxf4 exf4, Black takes a bishop, but White keeps control of e5 and a half-open e-file.

• The trade-off

  What you gain

  • A clear setup against each black second move.
  • Little theory: plans, not variations.
  • No recurring move that Stockfish disputes.
• The trade-off

  What you give up

  • 3.Nbd2 is not the engine's first choice; it prefers 3.c4.
  • Against 4…O-O 5.Bd3, the results drop sharply.
  • The b4 pawn can become a target for …a5.
• That's all

  Your turn

  These ideas only stick once you play the moves. The chapters make you find the right ones.

  Start chapter 1

Card 1 of 16: Indian Game

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