Summary
The Bogo-Indian Defense begins with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ (ECO E11). With 2,179,516 games on record, the patterns below come from the largest practical sample available.
- White must answer the check on b4; the main independent tries are 4.Bd2 and 4.Nbd2, since 4.Nc3 simply transposes to the Nimzo-Indian.
- It offers Black another option besides the Queen's Indian when White plays 3.Nf3 to avoid the Nimzo-Indian.
- Play often revolves around the fate of the b4-bishop, which comes under question after 4.Bd2.
History and Notable Players
It arises from the Indian Defense: Anti-Nimzo-Indian. On the White side, Ivan Farago (89 games), Zdenko Kozul (71 games), Loek Van Wely (57 games) top the database. Notable Black exponents: Ulf Andersson (130 games), Viktor Korchnoi (84 games), Milan Drasko (84 games).
The defense is credited to Efim Bogoljubow, its likely originator, who employed it frequently during the 1920s. It emerged as Black's answer when White plays 3.Nf3 to sidestep the Nimzo-Indian, and was later taken up by players such as Keres, Petrosian, Smyslov and Korchnoi.
Named after: Efim Bogoljubow, the Russian-born German grandmaster believed to have originated it; 'Bogo' abbreviates his surname.
Notable players: Efim Bogoljubow, Paul Keres, Tigran Petrosian, Ulf Andersson
Common Mistakes
- Neglecting development — Extra pawn moves in the opening are tempting, especially when you "know the moves". Developing a piece each turn is the simple correction.
- Letting White own the centre — Hypermodern openings concede central space on purpose, but only if you strike back in time. Delay the counter-blow and you end up squeezed.
Practice on Chessiverse
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