Bogo-Indian Defense: Retreat Variation 8…c6 9. Rc1
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Statistics from Lichess
1,418 games: White 48.0% / Draw 11.9% / Black 40.1%
| Next move | Games | White / Draw / BlackW / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| 733733 | ||
| 327327 | ||
| 233233 | ||
| 4949 | ||
| 2525 | ||
| 1919 | ||
| 88 | ||
| 66 |
Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 22, 2026
Engine evaluation
+0.09 The position is about equal
Best play: 9... a5 10. e3 Re8 11. Be1 h6 12. b3 b6 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. Bf1
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 Nbd7 7. O-O O-O 8. Qc2 c6 9. Rc1 (9 moves).
In 1,418 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.0%, Black 40.1% and 11.9% were drawn. Black's most played move here is 9…b6, in 52% of those games.
Written from the Lichess opening list and explorer. Know this line well? Write about it.
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How to answer 9. Rc1
9…a5 scores best for Black: 50.0%, with Black winning 44.6% and White 44.6% of 327 games. The most played, 9…b6, scores 45.8% in 733 games, and 9…Ne4 scores lowest: 43.1%. Stockfish's first choice is also 9…a5.
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
Cite this page
Caissa Codex. “Bogo-Indian Defense: Retreat Variation (E11)”. Lichess data as of 22 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/bogo-indian-defense-retreat-variation-7