Chess Openings Lab
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Indian Defense: Pawn Push Variation

The Pawn Push Variation is 1.d4 Nf6 2.d5, where White advances the d-pawn at once instead of developing. Black can hit the lone pawn with ...e6, ...c6 or ...e5, and White must decide whether to keep it or trade it.

Moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.d5
ECO
A45
Engine
−0.35 · a slight edge for Black (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
993 games in our lichess sample
White scores
45.3%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After ...e6, trading dxe6 and following with c4, e3 and Nf3 gives a sound but modest position.
  • Back up the d5 pawn with c4 against ...c6; after ...cxd5 cxd5 keep developing with Nc3.
  • Against ...e5, Black's pawn is free to cramp you, so set up a3, e3 and c4 before committing pieces.

Black

  • 2...e6 attacks d5 at once; after dxe6 fxe6, Black has a broad center with ...Nc6 and ...b6 ideas.
  • 2...c6 also undermines d5; after ...cxd5 cxd5, the ...e6 break and ...Bb4 pin give Black active play.
  • 2...e5 grabs space and develops ...Bc5; the d5 pawn becomes a long-term target for ...c6.

Plans and pawn structure

White's early d5 spends a tempo on a pawn that Black can attack at once. Most often White trades on e6 and plays a quiet c4, e3 and Nf3 setup, while Black uses the half-open f-file and central pawns for active play. In the ...e5 lines the pawn stays on d5 and gains space, but Black builds with ...d6 and ...a5 and later breaks with ...c6 or ...f5.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.35: a slight edge for Black. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.35 2...e6 3.dxe6 fxe6 4.c4 Nc6 5.e3
  2. −0.29 2...c6 3.c4 cxd5 4.cxd5 e6 5.Nc3
  3. −0.21 2...e5 3.a3 Bc5 4.e3 a5 5.c4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

993 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 45.3%.

under 120045.1%
1200–159948.1%
1600–199942.6%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As Black, challenge the pawn right away. 2...e6 is the engine's top choice: after dxe6 recapture with the f-pawn and develop ...Nc6. Do not ignore d5 for long, or White gets c4 and e4 behind it with a real space edge.

Questions

What are the moves of the Indian Defense: Pawn Push Variation?

The Indian Defense: Pawn Push Variation starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.d5. Its ECO code is A45.

Is the Indian Defense: Pawn Push Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.35 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for Black. In 993 lichess games from our sample, White scored 45.3%. A sideline for White players who want to avoid theory, but it hands Black easy, active play.

What is the main idea of the Indian Defense: Pawn Push Variation?

White grabs space with an early d5 instead of developing. Black attacks the pawn with ...e6 or ...c6 and gets free, active development while White spends time on pawn moves.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is e6, with c6 and e5 close behind. 2...e6 hits the d5 pawn at once, and after dxe6 fxe6 Black has a strong center and open f-file.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.