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Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6/2. Nc3

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Indian defence
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Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN)
rnbqkb1r/pppppppp/5n2/8/3P4/2N5/PPP1PPPP/R1BQKBNR
Moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3
ECO code: A45
Parent: Indian defence

2. Nc3

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This is a less common move, with lots of transpositional possibilities. Developing the queen's knight this early is unusual in 1. d4 openings because it prevents White from playing c4. The knight supports playing e4 next.

This usually forces Black to play 2...d5, to prevent 3. e4. If White plays 3. e4?! anyway, the game transposes into a Blackmar-Diemer gambit position after 3...dxe4. However, the main ways for White to continue are 3. Bg5, the Richter-Veresov attack, or 3. Bf4, the Rapport-Jobava London system. An advantage of these systems is that they may be played against 1...Nf6 or 1...d4.

Other moves allow White to play 3. e4 and transpose into a 1. e4 opening. 2...e6 3. e4 d5 transposes into a French defence. 2...g6 3. e4 d6 transposes into the Pirc defence.

2...c5?! is a Benoni-style move, although the game plays out differently because of White's knight's position, preventing c4 but supporting e4. After 3. d5 e6, 4. e4 is now possible, and if Black continues to approach this like a modern Benoni, they may blunder 4...exd5?? 5. e5![1] (one line is 5...d4 6. exf6 dxc3? 7. Qe2+ Be7 8. fxe7 Qc7 9. bxc3 +-).

Theory table

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For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3

2 3 4 5 6 7
Richter-Veresov attack ...
d5		 Bg5
Nbd7		 Nf3
h6		 Bh4
e6		 e3
Be7
Rapport-Jobava London system ...
...		 Bf4
e6		 Nb5
Na6		 e3
Be7		 Nf3
O-O
Blackmar-Diemer gambit
(by transposition)		 ...
...		 e4?!
dxe4
French defence
(by transposition)		 ...
e6		 e4
d5
Pirc defence
(by transposition)		 ...
g6		 e4
d6
Reversed Chigorin defence ...
c5		 d5
g6		 e4
d6		 Nf3
Bg7		 Bb5+
Bd7		 a4
O-O
(illustrative trap) ...
...		 ...
e6		 e4
exd5??		 e5
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References

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  1. ↑ 4...exd5?? is the main move in the Lichess amateurs database; having been played over 350,000 times as of September 2026.

See also

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v · t · e
Chess Opening Theory
1. e4 e5
Open games
2. Nf3
2...Nc6
3. Bb5
Spanish
3. Bc4
Italian
3. Nc3
Three knights
Other
2...Nf6
Russian
2...d6
Philidor
Other
2. f4
King's gambit
2...exf4
Accepted
Other
Declined
2. Nc3
Vienna
Other
1. e4 c5
Sicilian
2. Nf3
2...Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
2...Nc6 other
2...d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
2...d6 other
2...e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
2...e6 other
Others
Anti-Sicilians
1. e4 e6
French
1. e4 c6
Caro-Kann
1. e4 other
1. d4 d5
Closed games
2. c4
Queen's gambit
2. Nc3
2. other
1. d4 Nf6
Indian
2. c4 e6
2. c4 g6
2. c4 other
2. Nf3
2. other:
1. d4 f5
Dutch
1. d4 ...other:
1. Nf3
Zukertort
Flank
Unorthodox
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