Bogo-Indian Defense: Retreat Variation 9…b6 10. Nbd2
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Statistics from Lichess
9,147 games: White 46.0% / Draw 9.6% / Black 44.4%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 5,5025,502 | ||
| 1,8121,812 | ||
| 1,4611,461 | ||
| 217217 | ||
| 9898 | ||
| 2323 | ||
| 1717 | ||
| 1212 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.15 The position is about equal
Best play: 10... Nh5 11. Be5 Nhf6 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. e4 dxc4 14. Nxc4 Bb7 15. Rfd1
Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.
Overview
Bogo-Indian Defense: Retreat Variation (ECO E11, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the Indian Defense: Anti-Nimzo-Indian, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2 Nbd7 9. Bf4 b6 10. Nbd2 (10 moves).
In 9,147 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.0%, Black 44.4% and 9.6% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 10…Bb7, in 60% of those games.
It continues into one named variation.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to answer 10. Nbd2
10…Nh5 scores best for Black: 53.3%, with Black winning 47.6% and White 40.9% of 1,461 games. The most played answer, 10…Bb7, scores lowest: 48.5% in 5,502 games. Stockfish's first choice is also 10…Nh5.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: Black's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Variations (1)
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Bogo-Indian Defense: Retreat Variation (E11)”. Lichess data as of 31 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/bogo-indian-defense-retreat-variation-11