Chess Openings Lab
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Indian Defense: Seirawan Attack

The Seirawan Attack is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Bg5, pinning the f6 knight before White has developed either knight. White hopes to trade on f6 and keep a solid center, while Black can question the bishop with ...h6 or check with ...Bb4+ for quick development.

Moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Bg5
ECO
E00
Engine
−0.16 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
566 games in our lichess sample
White scores
47.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Against ...h6, take Bxf6 and develop with Nc3 and Rc1; a3 then questions a bishop on b4.
  • Meet ...Bb4+ with Nd2, then a3 to win the bishop pair or force a trade on d2.
  • Against ...Be7, retreat with Bf4 after ...h6 and keep a Queen's Gambit setup with Nc3 and Nf3.

Black

  • 3...h6 is the engine's top choice: after Bxf6 Qxf6 you have the bishop pair and a quick ...Bb4.
  • 3...Bb4+ and ...c5 hit d4 at once; trading on d2 and then ...cxd4 frees the position.
  • ...Be7 with ...d5 and ...c5 leads to Queen's Gambit play where the g5 bishop must decide early.

Plans and pawn structure

The g5 bishop is White's early commitment. If White trades on f6, Black gets the two bishops and dark-square play with ...Bb4, while White builds a center with Nc3, e3 and Rc1 and aims to blunt the bishops. If the bishop stays, play resembles a Queen's Gambit with ...d5 and ...c5 against d4. In the ...Bb4+ lines, the c5 break and a quick queen trade on d4 lead to an open, even game.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.16: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.16 3...h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Rc1
  2. +0.01 3...Bb4+ 4.Nd2 c5 5.a3 Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2
  3. +0.02 3...Be7 4.Nc3 h6 5.Bf4 d5 6.Nf3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

566 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 47.6%.

1200–159946.4%
1600–199948.6%
2000 and up42.5%

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

How to play against it

As Black, question the bishop at once with 3...h6. After the trade on f6 your queen is active and ...Bb4 adds pressure on c3. Avoid letting White keep the pin while you are undeveloped; 3...Bb4+ is a good alternative that develops with check.

Questions

What are the moves of the Indian Defense: Seirawan Attack?

The Indian Defense: Seirawan Attack starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Bg5. Its ECO code is E00.

Is the Indian Defense: Seirawan Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.16 at depth 20, which is level. In 566 lichess games from our sample, White scored 47.6%. A surprise weapon for White that suits players who like simple structures; Black is comfortable after ...h6.

What is the main idea of the Indian Defense: Seirawan Attack?

White pins the f6 knight early, ready to trade it and play for the center. Black replies with ...h6 to win the bishop pair, or with ...Bb4+ and ...c5 for fast development.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is h6, with Bb4+ and Be7 close behind. 3...h6 asks the bishop to decide, and after Bxf6 Qxf6 Black owns the bishop pair.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.