Tree path 4 levels Queen's Pawn Game › Indian Defense › Normal Variation › Old Indian Defense

A53

Old Indian Defense

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Overview

Old Indian Defense is a named branch in the Flank Openings group of chess theory, classified under ECO A53.

The Flank Openings group covers flank openings — systems that delay the central pawn break and instead develop pieces and pawns on the wings.

It begins with 4 plies and takes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 to reach the canonical position.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from Indian Defense: Normal Variation, part of the broader Queen's Pawn Game system.

7 distinct sub-variations branch from this opening; prominent examples include Aged Gibbon Gambit, Czech Variation, with Nc3, Czech Variation, with Nf3, and others.

Together the deeper variations number 12 across the full subtree.

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ECO code: A53
Group: Flank Openings (A)
Plies: 4
Parent: Indian Defense: Normal Variation
Direct variations: 7
Total in subtree: 12

This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.

Statistics from Lichess

7,169,806 games · White 48.4% / Draw 5.1% / Black 46.5%

Moves	Games	W / D / B
Nc3	5,583,788
Nf3	965,031
e3	214,951
g3	122,507
Bg5	105,722
Bf4	44,041
d5	36,661
f3	21,597

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 00:57:20

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Variations (7)

Show all 12 sub-variations (full subtree)

Overview

Statistics from Lichess

Variations (7)

Related variations at the same level