Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

Indian Defense: Tartakower Attack

The Tartakower Attack is 1.d4 Nf6 2.g3, preparing a Catalan-style fianchetto before White commits the c-pawn or the king's knight. Black can strike at the center with ...d5 and ...c5, play ...c5 at once, or set up ...g6 for a symmetrical fianchetto.

Moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.g3
ECO
A45
Engine
+0.05 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,237 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.1%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After 2...d5, Nf3 and c4 lead to Catalan play; if ...dxc4, check with Qa4 and win the pawn back.
  • Against 2...c5, d5 gains space; after ...b5 continue with Bg2, Qd3 and a4 to undermine Black's queenside pawns.
  • Against ...g6, c4, Bg2 and Nf3 reach a fianchetto Grünfeld or King's Indian setup.

Black

  • 2...d5 and ...c5 attack d4; after ...dxc4 and Qa4+, block with ...Qd7 and let the queens face off on c4.
  • 2...c5 invites d5, and then ...b5 and ...d6 give Black Benko-style queenside play.
  • 2...g6 with ...c6, ...d5 and ...Bg7 builds a solid Slav-Grünfeld setup against the g2 bishop.

Plans and pawn structure

White's g3 commits to the long diagonal, so the fight centers on d5 and the a8-h1 line. In Catalan lines, White gives up c4 for a moment and wins it back with Qa4+, keeping the g2 bishop strong. In ...c5 lines, White's d5 grabs space and Black plays on the queenside with ...b5, ...d6 and ...a6. With ...g6, both sides fianchetto and the game turns slow, with c4 and ...d5 tension in the center.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.05: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.05 2...d5 3.Nf3 c5 4.c4 dxc4 5.Qa4+
  2. +0.07 2...c5 3.d5 b5 4.Bg2 d6 5.Qd3
  3. +0.13 2...g6 3.c4 c6 4.Bg2 d5 5.Nf3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,237 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.1%.

under 120055.1%
1200–159950.7%
1600–199953.5%
2000 and up50.4%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

How to play against it

As Black, 2...d5 is a direct reply, and ...c5 next hits d4 hard. If you take on c4, know the Qa4+ check and block with ...Qd7. Avoid passive setups that let White build c4, Nc3 and e4 behind the g2 bishop.

Questions

What are the moves of the Indian Defense: Tartakower Attack?

The Indian Defense: Tartakower Attack starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.g3. Its ECO code is A45.

Is the Indian Defense: Tartakower Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.05 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,237 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.1%. A flexible move order for White players who like Catalan structures; Black has several sound, simple replies.

What is the main idea of the Indian Defense: Tartakower Attack?

White fianchettoes early and waits to choose between Catalan and King's Indian setups. Black can hit the center with ...d5 and ...c5 or mirror with ...g6.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is d5, with c5 and g6 close behind. 2...d5 takes the center, and ...c5 next makes d4 a target before White develops.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.