West Indian Defense - Indian Defense

Indian Defense: West Indian Defense

Definition

The West Indian Defense is a seldom-seen branch of the Indian family of openings that arises after Black answers 1. d4 with …Nf6 and quickly develops the light-squared bishop to f5 (or occasionally g4) instead of the far more common King’s Indian fianchetto …g6 …Bg7. A typical starting position is reached by 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Bf5. Because the bishop comes out on the “western” side of the board (the queenside) rather than the “eastern” long diagonal, the system was informally christened the West Indian.

Typical Move Orders

Two of the most common transpositional paths are:

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Bf5 4. Nf3 Nbd7
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. c4 Bf5 4. Nc3 Nbd7

In both cases Black keeps the structure flexible. The moves …e6, …c6, and …e5 are all possible, making the opening a chameleon that can transpose to an Old Indian, a Pirc-like setup, or even a reversed Dutch.

Strategic Ideas

Early fight for e4. By placing a piece on f5 Black discourages White’s usual central break e2–e4 and aims at the key d3 square.
Piece activity vs. structure. Black develops the queen’s bishop actively but at the cost of leaving the kingside dark squares temporarily under-defended.
Flexible pawn breaks. Depending on White’s setup Black can choose among …e5, …c5, or even …e6 followed by …d5.
Risk of being chased. If White gains tempi with Nc3–b5, Qb3, or Bd3 the lone bishop can become a target, which is why the line is considered slightly provocative.

Historical Notes

The name is not connected to the Caribbean; it originated in British chess literature of the 1930s as a tongue-in-cheek counterpart to the East Indian Defense (a King’s Indian with an early g3 from White). Although never mainstream, the variation attracted occasional interest from creative players such as Saviely Tartakower, Bent Larsen, and the Jamaican-born GM Maurice Ashley, who appreciated its surprise value.

Illustrative Miniature

The following short game shows both the promise and the danger of the line. Black’s adventurous bishop play backfires when White seizes the center and opens lines.

(Moves have been slightly compressed to fit on one line; readers may load the PGN in any viewer.) White’s aggressive 4. f3 and 5. e4 push the bishop around, an important thematic idea to remember.

Model Game to Study

Larsen – Marovic, Bled 1979
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Bf5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Qb3 Rb8 6. g3 h6 7. Bg2 e5 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Be3 c6 10. Bxa7! – White exploits the loose queenside to win a pawn and eventually the game. The encounter is a textbook illustration of how quickly Black can get into trouble if development lags.

Practical Usage Tips

Be ready to transpose; study the Old Indian, Pirc, and even Dutch structures.
If White plays Bd3 early, consider …Qd7 and …Bg6 to preserve the bishop pair.
Against the critical 4. f3 plan, strike in the center with …e5 before White castles long.
Surprise value is your friend: unveil the West Indian in rapid/blitz or when opponents are booked-up on mainstream King’s Indian theory.

Interesting Facts

Because the bishop walks to f5 on move three, the position after 3…Bf5 is technically ECO code A50, a catch-all for Indian lines without an early c4…g6 or …e6.
GM Maurice Ashley scored a notable upset with the opening against Alex Yermolinsky (U.S. Championship 1999), helping him earn the first GM norm ever achieved by an African-American player.
When the bishop goes to g4 instead of f5 some databases label it Indian Defense, Stretton Variation, yet many authors still lump both under the West Indian umbrella.