Bogo Indian Defence: Complete Guide to Mastering this Classic Chess Opening

The Bogo Indian Defence is a classical chess opening that starts with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 bb4+. This opening is in fact named after the Russian Grandmaster Efim Bogoljubov, where Black also challenges the center squares of the White, offering a check on the bishop and requiring White to determine early how to block it. This basic concept can easily slow the progress of White, and Black can play comfortably, and even without a lot of risk.

This safety and flexibility of the opening is what actually makes it special. It does not lead to dramatic theoretical confrontations but nevertheless grants Black a vast variety of strategic opportunities in the middlegames. Players who actually enjoy positional play, sensitive use of pieces, and long-term control of central squares will find this opening quite satisfying. This is not quite as popular an opening as Nimzo-Indian, but it is still a very strong and viable choice at the top level.