Czech-Indian

The Czech-Indian arises after 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c6. Instead of committing the e- or g-pawn, Black prepares ...d5 with the support of the c-pawn. This leaves the light-squared bishop free to develop outside the pawn chain. In practice the game most often settles into a Slav-type setup. The standard illustration is 3. c4 d5, which reaches a Slav proper. White can also keep the game in independent channels by declining to play an early c4.

The three main replies are played about equally often. 3. c4 heads for Queen's Gambit territory. 3. Bf4 adopts a London setup, and 3. e3 a Colle-type setup, where the c6–d5 structure tends to produce quiet, maneuvering positions. The line is a modest sideline of the Knights Variation. White scores somewhat better in the Lichess database, and engines give White a slight edge, preferring 3. c4, 3. e3 and 3. Bf4.