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Guided lesson · Intermediate · Openings

Bogo-Indian: what follows the check

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The Bogo-Indian begins 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+. You play Black and respond to the piece blocking the check. Bd2 allows a retreat and a fight for d5; Nbd2 creates a different setup where ...b6 is possible. Exchanging the bishop does not automatically double pawns: check the recapturing piece. Practice puts you in charge of Black once the check has been blocked.

The key idea

The response to the check determines your plan: retreat and occupy d5, or prepare development through b7 before exchanging.

Example 1 · Retreat and centre

Retreat the bishop to e7 without committing the structure.

  1. Be7 Retreat the bishop to e7 without committing the structure.
  2. Nc3 Nc3 adds control of d5 and e4.
  3. d5 Occupy d5: your pawns and knight support the centre.
  4. Bf4 Bf4 develops outside the future pawn chain.

Example 2 · Preparing b7 before exchanging

Prepare ...Bb7 to contest the long diagonal.

  1. b6 Prepare ...Bb7 to contest the long diagonal.
  2. a3 a3 asks the bishop to exchange or retreat.
  3. Bxd2+ Exchange on d2 with check before losing another tempo.
  4. Nxd2 The f3-knight recaptures: there are no doubled pawns.

Practice

You play Black. Practice two decisions from this line: Retreat and centre.

  1. You keep the bishop and a sound position; now coordinate your centre and king. Be7, a5 and Qe7 keep this sequence available. Bxd2+, Nc6 and c5 are alternatives too, but require a different continuation.
  2. You keep a sound position by organising the centre or bringing your king to safety. If your bishop is still on b4, there are more sound moves, such as ...Bxc3 or ...b6. In this exercise, choose between ...d5 and ...O-O.

In another game, identify the blocking piece and the possible recapture before exchanging your bishop.