Horwitz Defense

The Horwitz Defense, 1. d4 e6, is also known as the Franco-Indian Defense. Black frees the dark-squared bishop and prepares either ...d5 or ...f5 without yet deciding on a central structure. That choice is deferred until White has shown which setup it intends. Unlike 1...d5 or 1...Nf6, the move gives White the chance to play 2. e4 and reach a French Defense, so it suits players who are happy in that opening.

In the Lichess games, 2. e4 is by far the most frequent answer, leading to the French Defense: Normal Variation. White players who want to stay in queen's pawn structures usually choose 2. c4. Black then picks a familiar destination: 2...d5 for a Queen's Gambit Declined, 2...Nf6 for an Indian defense, or 2...f5 for a Dutch. The check 2...Bb4+ has its own name, the Keres or Kangaroo Defense. A much rarer branch is the Zilbermints Gambit, 2. c4 e5, in which Black offers the e-pawn instead of building a solid center.

Against system players, the move order works as a waiting move. After 2. Nf3 with 3. e3 (the Colle), 2. Bf4 (the London) or 2. Nc3 followed by 3. Bf4 (the Jobava London), Black can switch to whatever setup it normally uses against those schemes. The Horwitz therefore has little independent theory. The character of the game depends almost entirely on the opening it turns into, from the closed maneuvering of the Queen's Gambit Declined to the sharper play of the French or the Dutch.

The position is among the most often reached named openings in the database, about sixteenth by number of games. White scores slightly better than Black, and draws are rare at this level of play. The engine gives White a slight edge, in line with most first-move replies. Its preferred moves are 2. Nc3, 2. e4 and 2. c4.

The name honors Bernhard Horwitz, a member of the Berlin Pleiades. He used the move several times in his 15-game match against Daniel Harrwitz at Brighton in 1849. Howard Staunton had played it earlier, in his 1843 matches with Saint-Amant. All five of his games with it became a Queen's Gambit Declined after 2. c4 d5, and he went on to win the match.