Caissa Codex
A52

Indian Defense: Budapest Defense, Alekhine Variation, Tartakower Defense

Chess diagram: Indian Defense: Budapest Defense, Alekhine Variation, Tartakower Defense after 4…d6

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Statistics from Lichess

28,184 games: White 48.6% / Draw 4.4% / Black 47.0%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
14,03714K
4,1304,130
4,0314,031
2,6002,600
1,4381,438
1,2151,215
204204
202202

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026

Engine evaluation

+1.05 White is better

Best play: 5. Be2 Nxe5 6. Nc3 g6 7. h4 h5 8. Nh3 Be7 9. Bg5 Bxh3

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

Indian Defense: Budapest Defense, Alekhine Variation, Tartakower Defense (ECO A52, Flank Openings) is a variation of the Indian Defense: Budapest Defense, Alekhine Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 d6 (4 moves).

In 28,184 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 48.6%, Black 47.0% and 4.4% were drawn. White's most played move here is 5. exd6, in 50% of those games.

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How to play against the Indian Defense: Budapest Defense, Alekhine Variation, Tartakower Defense

5. Be2 scores best for White: 58.9%, with White winning 56.8% and Black 39.1% of 4,130 games. The most played, 5. exd6, scores 48.1% in 14K games, and 5. f4 scores lowest: 46.8%. Stockfish's first choice is also 5. Be2.

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

Other lines from the same position

Instead of 4…d6, the position after Indian Defense: Budapest Defense, Alekhine Variation also goes on to:

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “Indian Defense: Budapest Defense, Alekhine Variation, Tartakower Defense (A52)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/indian-defense-budapest-defense-alekhine-variation-tartakower-defense

https://chesscodex.org/openings/indian-defense-budapest-defense-alekhine-variation-tartakower-defense