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Old Indian (A53)
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 d6

Number of games in database: 1441
Years covered: 1890 to 2013
Overall record:
   White wins 43.5%
   Black wins 25.7%
   Draws 30.7%

Popularity graph, by decade

Explore this opening  |  Search for sacrifices in this opening.
PRACTITIONERS
With the White Pieces With the Black Pieces
Viktor Korchnoi  15 games
Wlodzimierz Schmidt  12 games
Margeir Petursson  10 games
Lawrence Day  41 games
David Bronstein  22 games
Kamran Shirazi  22 games
NOTABLE GAMES [what is this?]
White Wins Black Wins
Petrosian vs Simagin, 1956
Rubinstein vs Schlechter, 1918
M Bobotsov vs F Bohatirchuk, 1954
V Mikenas vs Bronstein, 1965
J Corzo vs Capablanca, 1913
Marshall vs Lasker, 1914
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 page 1 of 58; games 1-25 of 1,441  PGN Download
Game  ResultMoves Year Event/LocaleOpening
1. J Holzwarth vs J Bauer  0-147 1890 Kolisch MemorialA53 Old Indian
2. Von Scheve vs W Paulsen ½-½47 1892 DSB-07.KongressA53 Old Indian
3. Salwe vs Chigorin 0-133 1906 Lodz (Match)A53 Old Indian
4. Marshall vs Chigorin 0-130 1906 OstendeA53 Old Indian
5. Marshall vs Chigorin  ½-½38 1906 15th DSB Kongress (Nuremberg)A53 Old Indian
6. Tarrasch vs Chigorin  ½-½49 1906 15th DSB Kongress (Nuremberg)A53 Old Indian
7. E Cohn vs Chigorin 1-037 1907 KarlsbadA53 Old Indian
8. Metger vs Mieses  0-142 1907 It (b)A53 Old Indian
9. Salwe vs Mieses 1-031 1907 It (b)A53 Old Indian
10. F G Jacob vs Mieses  1-038 1907 Ostende-BA53 Old Indian
11. Swiderski vs Mieses  0-125 1907 Ostende-BA53 Old Indian
12. Teichmann vs Nimzowitsch  ½-½45 1907 Ostende-BA53 Old Indian
13. W John vs Nimzowitsch ½-½29 1907 Ostende-BA53 Old Indian
14. O Bernstein vs Burn 0-133 1909 St PetersburgA53 Old Indian
15. Marshall vs W Moorman 1-050 1909 22nd New York State Chess Association ChampionshipA53 Old Indian
16. Tartakower vs Znosko-Borovsky  ½-½68 1909 St PetersburgA53 Old Indian
17. Salwe vs S Von Freymann 1-047 1909 St PetersburgA53 Old Indian
18. Salwe vs Tartakower 1-061 1910 HamburgA53 Old Indian
19. Rotlewi vs Bogoljubov 1-025 1910 Warsaw TournamentA53 Old Indian
20. Rotlewi vs Bogoljubov 1-025 1910 WTZGSz 10th anniversary tournamentA53 Old Indian
21. B Kostic vs Burn  ½-½25 1911 KarlsbadA53 Old Indian
22. J Esser vs H Baudet  0-134 1912 NED-ch02A53 Old Indian
23. J C Reeders vs J W Te Kolste  0-125 1912 NED-ch02A53 Old Indian
24. J C Reeders vs H Baudet  ½-½44 1912 NED-ch02A53 Old Indian
25. J Corzo vs Capablanca 0-137 1913 HavanaA53 Old Indian
 page 1 of 58; games 1-25 of 1,441  PGN Download
  REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)  
 

Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 1 OF 2 ·  Later Kibitzing>
Jul-30-04  atripodi: Is the Old Indian worth taking up? It's always talked poorly about in opening reference books, and to me, it does often seem like a King's Indian minus two tempi. Yet it seems to always have a small group of GMs and IMs who use it (our resident unorthodox opening master Lawrence Day being among the most prolific users), and it seems like it would be a good way to avoid common KI territory if it's sound. So...well, is it sound?
Jul-30-04  Bastrikov: <atripodi> why are you interested in this opening?
Jul-31-04  BiLL RobeRTiE: <Bastrikov> why the hell shouldn't he be? :D
Jul-31-04  atripodi: Well, I tend to like really solid systems against d4 and have become disenchanted with my usual QGD Lasker system due to all the non-main line continuations that are often at least as good as main line. I like the Bogo-Indian, but at my level and in my area it's very infrequent and I'm not sure I like the Nimzo enough to study up on all the various systems white can use.
Jul-31-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  IMlday: It is much more solid than a KID
for 3 reasons:
(a)White cannot open a file
against the King by h4-h5xg6, nor attack with Be3, Qd2, Bh6 etc; (b)White's 'extra' tempi mean he plays 0-0, foregoing long castling; (c) If White advances d4-d5 the Be7 is ideally placed to defend the b4, c4-c5, standard pawn storm on the Queenside.

Middlegame positions often resemble the Breyer Variation of the Ruy lopez where Black also 'loses' two tempi (nb8-c6-b8).

I played a few Lasker QGD's but they were all pretty boring draws.

Jul-31-04  Bastrikov: I like solid systems also but constantly changing your opening reptoir is a bad habit
Jul-31-04  Bastrikov: Proof IM Day old indian wins
1 d4 Nf6
2 Bf4 d6
3 Nc3 Nbd7
4 e4 e5
5 dxe5 dxe5
6 Be3 c6
7 Bc4 Be7
8 a3 O-O
9 Nf3 Rb8
10 b4 Qc7
11 O-O Rd8
12 Bg5 a6
13 Bxf6 Nxf6
14 Qe2 Bd6
15 Qe3 Be6
16 Qg5 Bxc4
17 Rfe1 Be6
18 h3 Qe7
19 Ne2 Nd7
20 Qg3 Nb6
21 Ng5 Nc4
22 Qf3 Qxg5
23 h4 Qxh4
24 Ng3 Qf6
25 Qxf6 gxf6
26 Red1 Be7
27 Rd3 Rxd3
28 cxd3 Nb6
29 Rd1 Rd8
30 f3 Nc8
31 Ne2 Nd6
32 Ng3 Ne8
33 Kh2 Ng7
34 Kg1 f5
35 Ne2 fxe4
36 fxe4 Bg5
37 Ng3 Bf4
38 Kf2 Bxg3+
39 Kxg3 f5
40 exf5 Bxf5
41 Rf1 Rxd3+
42 Kh4 Rd4+
43 Kg3 Rg4+
44 Kh2 Rf4
45 g3 Rxf1
46 Kg2 Ra1
47 a4 Rxa4
48 g4 Bxg4
49 Kg3 Rxb4
50 Kf2 a5
51 Ke3 a4
52 Kd2 a3
53 Kc3 Rb6
54 Kc4 a2
55 Kc5 Rb1
56 Kd6 a1=Q
57 Kc7 Qa5+
58 Kd6 Rd1+
59 Ke7 Qd8#
0-1---
Jul-31-04
Premium Chessgames Member
  IMlday: I don't think OI wins; it's probably in many lines, but so are the other 1.d4 defences. However it keeps the pieces on the board permitting unclear middlegames if White gets too passive or aggressive.
Mar-28-05  paladin at large: <IMIday>I don't think OI wins; it's probably in many lines, but so are the other 1.d4 defences. However it keeps the pieces on the board permitting unclear middlegames if White gets too passive or aggressive.

Thank you for this succinct and to the point appraisal. Lasker and Capablanca used OI sparingly and successfully, apparently in both cases against very aggressive players they wished to throw off balance (Marshall-Lasker) (Juan Corzo-Capablanca). In this vein, I think it makes sense for some players who do not mind having to change clothes in a phone booth to have the OI ready for the right opponent.

Mar-29-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  IMlday: This one is listed in the database as an English but it sort of transposes. Lasker was very good at tranquillizing the excitable and exciting the tranquil. Tartakower vs Lasker, 1924
Mar-29-05  paladin at large: <IMlday>Thanks for the link - I would not have found it otherwise.
Mar-29-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Eric Schiller: Interested in this line? Here's proof it can be exciting:

Polugaevsky vs Nezhmetdinov, 1958

Mar-29-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  dragon40: I am a pure "D" Pawn player, but I have rarely faced the Old Indian...I do think it is better than its repoutation. These days, the player with the black pieces is looking for a dynamic, sharp and often times immediately unbalancing system to set White back on his feet so to speak; and the Old Indian is not that way in most of its forms. It can transpose into the Modern Defense in a few lines as well as previously mentioned the Breyer Lopez..but it hasnt the "killer " reputation that the Benoni, Benko, and other pure King's Indian systems do for the black pieces that want trouble early. It is a good opening, purely playable AND can win if White pushes too hard or treats it indifferently..so it could be worth a try for a 2nd or 3rd spot in a black piece player's reperiore in my opinion. Other references to see typical positions and how the opening usually plays can be found in many games from the 1950's and 60's when it was used quite a bit by players like Bronstein, Petrosian, Boleslavsky and others...
Apr-17-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Poisonpawns: Kotov vs Petrosian, 1953
Averbakh vs Kotov, 1953
The most beautiful game of the Zurich Tournament 1953 according to Bronstein happens to be an old indian!
Apr-22-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  dragon40: <poisonedpawns> There were quite a few Old Indian games in that 1953 Candidate's tournament and in that time period itself. It was very popular and almost all the leading Gm's at that time played it with the black pieces...of course, it has its advantages and disadvantages as all other openings, but it might be better against a club players becasue it is now much less used the the "standard" King's Indian.
Aug-22-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  who: The thing is surprising someone with a solid defensive but not great offensive defense isn't all that useful. If they know enough to know it's not a poor opening they probably will play conservatively, and you might have an easier time getting a draw then you would otherwise - but so what. Pulling a Benoni out (if the opponent is unprepared) seems like a better plan. If they're not prepared you quickly gain the initiative (IMHO).
Sep-26-05  Astardis: Why is it called Old Indian in the first place? What's old in it? And if there is something old, what would be the new?
Sep-26-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Benzol: <Astardis> Perhaps First Indian would be a better name for it. It was pioneered by Chigorin the late 19th century and was the oldest of the Indian systems with the King's Indian, Queen's Indian, Nimzoindian and Gruenfeld Defences appearing later in the early 20th century
Oct-10-05  paladin at large: <The thing is surprising someone with a solid defensive but not great offensive defense isn't all that useful.> I disagree. As IMDay pointed out, the Old Indian affords for plenty of complexity in the middlegame, as it is easier to keep all the pieces on the board for a longer time. You can still play to win with this defense.
Nov-28-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Averageguy: I usually play the QGA (Queen's Gambit Accepted) but thought I'd give this a try if I could in the Oban Congress Major (U-1600). This was due to the fact that I had seen alot of good wins for black in this system. In the second round I used it against a 1528 rated opponent. Here is the game (Me as Black): 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d6 3.e3 g6 4.Nbd2 Nbd7 5.e4 e5 6.c3 Bg7 7.Bc4 0-0 8.0-0 c6 9.a3 Nh5 10.Re1 Nf4 11.g3 Nh3+ 12.Kg2 Nb6 (Here I was thinking about either this or 12...Nf6, sacrificing the e-pawn, the main idea being 13.de Ng4, attacking the f2-pawn (my knight is not hanging on h3 due to discovered checks). In my calculations however I couldn't see what do do against 14.Rf1 defending the f2-pawn. The key tactic in my head that I missed was 14...Nhxf2 15.Rxf2 Ne3+ winning the queen.) 13.Ba2 Kh8 (Aiming for the ...f5 push.) 14.Nf1 Qe7 (Supporting the e-pawn and getting of the d-file so I don't have to worry about a Queen exchange.) 15.Ne3 c5 (Aiming to clarify the position in the centre so it would be easier to go about my Kingside attack.) 16.de de (I was thinking about 16...Bxe5 but couldn't see anything after 17.Nxe5 Qxe5 18.Ng4 Qh5 19.Ne3.) 17.Qc2 f5 (Tactically complicating the game but seemingly losing a piece.) 18.ef gf 19.Kxh3 f4+ 20.Ng4 Bxg4+ 21.Kxg4 Qd7+ 22.Kh4 Bf6+ 23.Ng5 Bxg5+ 24.Kxg5 Rg8+ 25.Bxg8 Rxg8+ 26.Kh4 Qg4# My opponent (a wonderfully nice and cheerful man)took the loss well and congratulated me for the win. Comments on this game would be appreciated.
Dec-11-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Averageguy: I think that I will stop playing this opening, because I don't like the types of positions that occur if white exchanges in the centre with de. So can anyone here please reccomend a low-theory aggresive system against 1.d4 please?
Dec-11-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  azaris: <Averageguy> What's wrong with the QGA? Have you looked at the Old Benoni after 1.d4 c5 2.d5 e6 3.c4 Nf6, or the von Hennig-Schara Gambit in the Tarrasch 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Qxd5 Nc6.

Then there's the Vulture (1.d4 c5 2.d5 Nf6 3.c4 Ne4):

http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kaiss...
http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kaiss...
http://www.chesscafe.com/text/kaiss...

Dec-11-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Dudley: Hmm- Low theory yet aggressive? Hard to find things like that. My best shot at it would be something like the Leningrad Dutch, or if you a gambiteer the Albin counter gambit which I find annoying to play against. It seems easy to play for Black but I could be wrong.
Dec-11-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Gypsy: <Astardis: Why is it called Old Indian in the first place? What's old in it? And if there is something old, what would be the new?> In fact, new-indian openings is another name for queen indian (Panov Estrin, Pachman, ...).

In addition to <Benzol> info: Old Indian was a Chigorin invention, who also invented KID, but did not trust KID enough to play it out of the starting blocks. Towards the WW2, OI acquired a cult following in Ukraine thanks to mostly F. Bohatirchuk. Then, Boleslavsky and Bronstein made KID/OI into a mainstream weappon. But even they often entered KID via the OI lines because of the very same reasons laid out by Chigorin: they wanted to avoid the lines like the Saemish.

Dec-11-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  Gypsy: <Hmm- Low theory yet aggressive? > Maybe Chigorin QGD? Wild with active piece play. According to <IMDay> the true ancestor to indian systems. It has agresive lines that need to be played accurately, but, because seldom played at the superGM level, theory does not change much.
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