Normal Variation

The Normal Variation is the standard position of the Old Indian Defense. White has occupied the center with c4, d4 and e4 and developed both knights, while Black has met this with ...d6, ...Nbd7 and ...e5. The knight on d7 supports the e5 pawn, and Black has not yet decided where the dark-squared bishop goes. Over the next moves both sides decide whether to keep the central tension. White can close the center with d5 or exchange on e5, and Black can exchange on d4 to open the position for the pieces.

The most common reply by far is 5...Be7, the classical Old Indian development, which keeps the position compact and prepares castling. 5...c6 is the second choice. It supports a later ...d5 or queenside expansion and leaves the bishop's placement open. 5...g6 puts the bishop on g7 instead, giving a structure close to the King's Indian. It is the engine's first preference, ahead of 5...a6 and 5...Be7, and on Lichess it has scored slightly better for Black than the other main moves. The engine gives White a slight edge, but practical results are close to even, and the play is mostly positional.