Chess opening · ECO E11
Bogo-Indian Defense
When White avoids the Nimzo-Indian with 3.Nf3, Black can still play the bishop to b4, this time with check. White has only five ways to answer, and the choice shapes the game. Black is happy to trade the bishop for a white minor piece or keep it on b4 with ...Qe7, and often follows up with pawns on dark squares like d6 and e5.
- Rank by weighted share
- #152 of 159
Key moves
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+
- 3. Nf3White develops the knight to f3 and keeps the option of Nc3 for later. This move order is mainly a way around the Nimzo-Indian pin on the c3 knight.
- 3... Bb4+The check forces White to block. Black develops a piece, prepares to castle, and gets a clear choice later between trading the bishop and keeping it.
Meeting Bd2
Bd2 offers a trade of dark-squared bishops. Black can take, protect the bishop with ...Qe7 so that it stays on b4, or support it with ...a5.
If the bishops come off, Black often puts pawns on d6 and e5. With no dark-squared bishop left, pawns on those squares help cover the dark squares in the center.
Why Nbd2 avoids the trade
Blocking with the knight keeps both white bishops on the board. White can follow with a3 to make the bishop decide, and if Black takes on d2, White keeps the bishop pair. The cost is that the knight on d2 puts less pressure on d5 and e4 than it would from c3.
Trading bishops and claiming e5
4. Bd2 Qe7 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Bxd2+ 7. Nbxd2 d6 8. O-O e5
White fianchettoes, and Black trades on d2 after White's bishop reaches g2. Black's pawns on d6 and e5 then take over the dark-square duties, while the knight on c6 adds pressure to d4.
Top replies by rating
Bd2 leads every band with three moves shown. At 2000 and up, Nbd2 moves up to second, ahead of Nc3.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200–1399 | Nc3 52% | Bd2 48% | – |
| 1400–1599 | Bd2 56% | Nc3 36% | Nbd2 8% |
| 1600–1799 | Bd2 67% | Nc3 25% | Nbd2 8% |
| 1800–1999 | Bd2 77% | Nc3 17% | Nbd2 7% |
| 2000 and up | Bd2 63% | Nbd2 30% | Nc3 8% |
Questions
What happens after Nc3?
Blocking with the knight on c3 brings the game into Nimzo-Indian positions, with White's knight already on f3. The bishop already pins that knight, and Black can trade on c3 for doubled pawns or play ...d5 to build a center.
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.