Indian: 2.Nc3

Definition

“Indian: 2.Nc3” is the modern Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO) label for the position that arises after 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3. White develops the queen’s knight before committing the c-pawn, creating a flexible system that can transpose into several other openings such as the Veresov, Jobava-London, Pirc reversed, or classical Queen’s Pawn games.

Typical Move Order & Starting Position

The critical diagram appears after the following moves:

• White: King on e1, Queen on d1, Knights on g1 & c3, pawns on d4, e2, f2, g2, h2, etc. • Black: King on e8, Queen on d8, Knight on f6, pawns on d7, e7, g7, etc.

2…d5 – transposes to a Chigorin-style position (reversed colors).
2…g6 – leads to a Pirc or King’s Indian set-up by Black.
2…e6 – offers a quick …Bb4 or …d5, echoing Nimzo-Indian ideas.
2…d6 – a pure King’s Indian Defence structure but without White’s c-pawn on c4.
2…b6 – heading for a Queen’s Indian-type fianchetto.

Strategic Ideas

Flexibility: By not playing 2. c4, White keeps the option of an early e2-e4 or even f2-f3, steering the game into Pirc- or French-like middlegames.
Rapid Piece Play: The knight on c3 supports Bg5/Bf4 and sometimes Nb5, allowing quick pressure on d5 or f6.
Transpositional Power: Depending on Black’s reply, White may enter:
1. The Veresov Attack (3. Bg5).
2. The fashionable Jobava-London set-up (3. Bf4, 4. e3, 5. Nf3).
3. A Nimzo-reversed after …Bb4 and a subsequent e2-e3.
4. An e4-central build-up (3. e4) resembling a reversed Pirc.
Slight Drawback: The early knight can sometimes become a tactical target after …d5 and …c5 when White’s c-pawn is still on c2.

Historical Perspective

The idea dates back to the 19^th century but had only sporadic master-level use until the mid-20^th century. It appeared in the notes of the 1920s Tartakower-Réti debates, yet never gained the popularity of 2. c4. In the 2000s, creative grandmasters such as Baadur Jobava, Richard Rapport, and Alexander Morozevich revived the line to sidestep heavy Indian-Defence theory.

Notable Games

Jobava – Mamedyarov, European Club Cup 2014

The Georgian GM uncorked 9.Nb5! and soon sacrificed an exchange to launch a direct kingside assault, illustrating the aggressive potential of 2.Nc3 systems.
Rapport – Caruana, Tata Steel 2017

Rapport steered the game into uncharted territory, eventually outplaying the world-class American in a double-edged middlegame.

Common Transpositions

2…d5 3.Bg5 leads to the Veresov Attack (ECO D01).
2…g6 3.e4 enters a Pirc/King’s Indian reversed (rare, but venomous).
2…e6 3.e4 d5 is a French Defence reversed with an extra tempo for White.
2…Bb4!? is effectively a Nimzo-Indian reversed; White may answer 3.e3.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

The ECO code most often associated with 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 is A46.
Author and streamer Sagacious-Santa jokingly calls it the “Wait-and-See Indian,” because White waits to discover Black’s structure before striking in the center.
In several blitz games on Chess.com, Magnus Carlsen has used 2.Nc3 to avoid pet King’s Indian preparation, proving it can surprise even elite opponents.
Because the knight blocks the c-pawn, engines at low depth often evaluate the line modestly for White, yet at high depth find dynamic compensation once e2-e4 breaks through.

Summary

“Indian: 2.Nc3” is a flexible, off-beat answer to 1…Nf6 that sidesteps mainstream Indian-Defence theory, grants White rich transpositional possibilities, and often catches the opponent in unfamiliar territory. Whether heading for a Veresov, Jobava-London, or an e4-center, it has become a respected weapon in the modern grandmaster’s repertoire.