Old Indian: 5.e4 Be7 6.Be2 c6 7.O-O
Old Indian: 5.e4 Be7 6.Be2 c6 7.O-O
Definition
The sequence of moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.e4 Be7 6.Be2 c6 7.O-O belongs to the Old Indian Defense, often called the Janowski Variation after Polish-French master Dawid Janowski. Unlike the more popular King’s Indian Defense (…g6 and …Bg7), Black keeps the king’s-side bishop on c8 and adopts a compact pawn chain d6–e5, aiming for central solidity and counterplay on the queenside or in the center.
Move Order & Tabiya
A typical move order is:
- 1. d4 Nf6
- 2. c4 d6
- 3. Nc3 e5
- 4. Nf3 Nbd7
- 5. e4 Be7
- 6. Be2 c6
- 7. O-O
After 7.O-O both sides have completed development of minor pieces; the position is often referred to as the Old Indian Main Tabiyah. Black’s next decisions revolve around …O-O, …Qc7, …exd4, or a timely …a6–…b5 expansion.
Strategic Themes
- Flexible Center – Black maintains the tension with pawns on d6 & e5. At the right moment …exd4 or …c6-c5 can undermine White’s center.
- Queenside Counterplay – The move …c6 prepares either …c5 or …b5, mirroring ideas from the King’s Indian (…b5-b4).
- Knight Maneuvers – The f6-knight may reroute via h5–f4 or c5–e6; meanwhile, White often posts a knight on d2 followed by c5 outposts.
- Piece Placement – White’s light-squared bishop on e2 is modest but safe; Black’s c8-bishop may come to g4, e6, or even h3 after …Nh5–f4.
- Endgame Prospects – If the center locks (d4-e4 vs. d6-e5), minor-piece play and pawn breaks decide the endgame. White seeks space; Black relies on structural solidity.
Historical Background
The Old Indian was fashionable in the 1920s–1950s before being eclipsed by the King’s Indian. Janowski, Tartakower, and later Petrosian employed it as a surprise weapon. In modern times, grandmasters such as Alexander Morozevich and Péter Lékó have revived the variation to avoid heavily analyzed King’s Indian lines.
Illustrative Example
From this typical middlegame (Petrosian-Suetin, USSR Ch 1966) we see:
- Black’s queen & bishop eye the a5–e1 diagonal.
- White holds more space but must watch the d5 pawn and the c5-knight hop.
- Both sides keep flexible pawn breaks: White c5, Black b5 or f5.
Typical Plans
- White: h3, Be3, Qc2, Rd1 followed by c5 break or kingside expansion with g4.
- Black: …Re8, …Bf8, …a5–a4 & …c6-c5 or timely …exd4 opening e-file for rooks.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
-
When Garry Kasparov was preparing against Petrosian in 1981, he found that Petrosian
trusted the Old Indian more than the King’s Indian because “
it keeps Black’s king safer
.” - Engines once dismissed the Old Indian as passive, but modern neural-net evaluations give ≈ 0.00–0.20 for Black—vindicating its soundness.
- In Deep Blue vs. Kasparov II (1997), IBM’s team briefly considered the Old Indian as a surprise defence but rejected it fearing endgame squeezes.
Why Choose This Line?
For club players the variation is:
- Practical – Less theory than the King’s Indian or Grünfeld.
- Solid yet Dynamic – Chances for central and queenside counterplay.
- Psychological Weapon – Many White players prepare for …g6 setups and can be pushed into unfamiliar structures.