Indian: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 cxd4
Indian: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 cxd4
Definition
The move-sequence 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 cxd4 introduces a branch of the
Neo-Indian Defence.
White avoids an early c2-c4, instead developing the knight to f3 and
fianchettoing the king’s bishop to g2.
Black replies with …c5 and immediately captures on d4,
challenging the centre before White has fixed it with c2-c4.
The line occupies an ecological niche between the Queen’s Indian,
Nimzo-Indian, and Benoni families, and appears in opening manuals under
ECO codes C00–E20 depending on transposition.
Typical Move Order
- 1.d4 Nf6 — Black adopts a flexible Indian set-up.
- 2.Nf3 e6 — Heading toward a Queen’s/Nimzo complex but leaving options open.
- 3.g3 — The hallmark Neo-Indian/Fianchetto system; White prepares Bg2.
- 3…c5 — Black strikes at the d-pawn before White supports it.
- 4.Bg2 cxd4 — Immediate clarification of the centre, avoiding transpositions to closed Benoni structures.
Strategic Themes
- Central Tension Resolved Early By capturing on d4, Black forces White to decide on the recapture (usually 5.Nxd4 or 5.Qxd4). This early exchange prevents White from building the classical d4-c4 pawn chain.
- Piece Play vs. Pawn Structure Black accepts a slight space concession but gains rapid development and chances to target d4 again with …d5 or …Bb4+.
- Flexible Transpositions Depending on later moves, the game may morph into a Tarrasch-like IQP position (after …d5 and exd5) or a Catalan-flavoured middlegame if White later plays c4.
- Fianchetto Bishop Power White’s Bg2 eyes the long diagonal, often discouraging …d5 breaks or punishing any premature kingside weaknesses.
Typical Plans
- For White
- Recapture with the knight: 5.Nxd4, keeping pieces active and the option of c4 later.
- Castle quickly and use the Bg2 pressure to prepare e4 or c4 pawn breaks.
- Exploit any dark-square weaknesses that arise after …d5.
- For Black
- Follow up with …d5, reaching an isolated-queen-pawn (IQP) or symmetrical structure.
- Alternatively play …b6 and …Bb7, echoing a Queen’s Indian with the centre already clarified.
- Use the half-open
c-file for rook activity, especially if White plays c4 later.
Historical & Theoretical Notes
• The Neo-Indian Defence was a favourite of Akiba Rubinstein in the 1920s,
long before the hyper-modern surge made the fianchetto common.
• The specific 4…cxd4 line gained renewed attention after it was used
by Gata Kamsky in his 1990s resurgence, and later by
Viswanathan Anand as a surprise weapon in rapid events.
Illustrative Game
Below is a condensed PGN of an instructive encounter highlighting the main ideas:
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- When Bobby Fischer drafted his famous “60 Memorable Games,” he considered adding a Neo-Indian game versus Bisguier (Havana 1965) but ultimately omitted it because “the opening is so resource-rich it deserves a book of its own.”
- The line occasionally pops up in correspondence chess; engines evaluate the starting position after 4…cxd4 as roughly equal (≈0.00), yet human results are skewed toward Black due to the immediate practical pressure.
- The hyper-modern spirit—allowing the opponent the centre and then attacking it—is on full display, making this opening a compact lesson in Indian-Defence philosophy.
Summary
The sequence 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 cxd4 is a crisp, no-nonsense way for Black to challenge White’s flexible Fianchetto system. Both sides obtain rich middlegame possibilities without heavy theoretical memorisation, making it a practical choice at all levels—from club play to elite rapid events.