Bogo-Indian Defense: Retreat Variation 6. Nf3 O-O
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Statistics from Lichess
148,604 games: White 46.7% / Draw 8.8% / Black 44.5%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 121,492121K | ||
| 15,65616K | ||
| 3,4213,421 | ||
| 2,4332,433 | ||
| 2,3002,300 | ||
| 755755 | ||
| 526526 | ||
| 475475 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 31, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.09 The position is about equal
Best play: 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2 Nbd7 9. Rd1 b6 10. Bf4 Ba6 11. cxd5 Nxd5
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 Bogo-Indian Defense: Retreat Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Bg2 d5 6. Nf3 O-O (6 moves).
In 148,604 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 46.7%, Black 44.5% and 8.8% were drawn. White's most played move here is 7. O-O, in 82% of those games.
It branches into 2 named variations.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to answer 6…O-O
The most played answer, 7. O-O, also scores best for White: 51.5%, with White winning 47.1% and Black 44.1% of 121K games. Of the main answers, 7. Qc2 scores lowest: 51.1%. Stockfish's first choice is also 7. O-O.
Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings
Variations (2)
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-3