I don't know why do people ask questions like this? Just play whatever you want and feel comfortable with.
Which Indian Defense is the best for a beginner to learn?
Sort:
it depends on what your style is and what colour you want
Jul 27, 2016
0
#5
What about forgetting about studying openings and learning the basics instead? Tactics, endings, etc.
Don't tell anyone I said this, or the Holy Inquisition of Chess Openings may accuse me of herecy.
Yes, all three defenses are for black and I don't have a "style" that I'm aware of. In fact, I'm not sure if I'd recognize a style if it hit me in the face. I was really hoping that someone very familiar with all three games might have an opinion as to which would be the easiest to master.
Jul 27, 2016
0
#7
The problem with most beginners is they are clueless as to why each move is played in the opening. They play it because the name sounds great, like the "King's Indian Defense". Do you think any beginner has any remote idea what they are doing in the King's Indian Defense? Fat Chance!
Don't believe me? I'll give you a prime example of what I see all the time by 1400 players (over the board). They go around saying how they know the Queen's Indian Defense so well. Then they proceed to play 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 b6.
STOP RIGHT THERE! I've heard enough to know that you are COMPLETELY CLUELESS if you play this! Why did you play 1...Nf6? To prevent e4 by White! After 2.c4, does White threaten e4? No! Black has time. 2...e6. Now, after 3.Nf3, does White threaten e4? NO! So Black can play 3...b6, intending 4...Bb7, adding another piece to the control of e4.
HOWEVER, if White plays 3.Nc3, does he threaten to play 4.e4? ABSOLUTELY! Does 3...b6 stop it? ABSOLUTELY NOT! At this point, you have just proven that you don't understand jack about the Queen's Indian, and just make moves like a robot!
Point is, if you ever see a sheer beginner start claiming that they know some complicated Indian Defense because they can spout out 8 moves from each side of main line, try throwing a slight curve ball at them, nothing unsound, and see if they have any clue what they are doing. Slightly deviate the move order or something that would make his "robotic" move bad. If he makes it, he's clearly clueless and just memorized moves.
The Queen's Indian/Nimzo-Indian Example is a perfect scenario. Someone goes spouting around saying they know the QID so well. Play 3.Nc3, if they play 3...b6, they are totally clueless and a clown when it comes to chess!
Don't be trying to study openings. Beginners don't know how to study openings properly, they try to memorize instead of actually understand what they are studying, and on top of that, when you go to face other beginners, they are all going to go out of book early, so what good does it do you to memorize long lines of some complicated Indian Defense when your opponent won't know the right moves anyway, and then you are on your own!
Stick to simple chess. 1.d4 d5, 1.e4 e5, until you are at least 1800. Only way you should play something else is if it comes to you naturally without any books, similar to becoming left or right handed as a baby. That's how I started out playing the French. Strictly through opening concepts, not books. Then I studied the French later! Of course, in 2007, I retired the French and now play other openings.
Is there no-one out there in chess.com-land who can understand my question and answer it?
dillydream wrote:
I understand that the Indian Defenses are not recommended for a beginner, because they are very complex. However, if a beginner wants to try one, which would be the easiest to learn?
1. Ignore any comments regarding "style" One of the most over and mis used words in chess.
2. Ignore any and all comments using the words "tactical", "agressive", "Positional", "Strategic" More words that are over used, and misused.
3. Play around with the Indian Openings, and find out if youre comfortable with them. Since i have no idea of your ability level, I have no idea if youre advanced enough for them.
4. I would suggest Opening Principles:
Control the center
Develop towards the center
Castle
Connect your rooks
Then:
Tactics...tactics...tactics...
dillydream wrote:
Is there no-one out there in chess.com-land who can understand my question and answer it?
You want a straight, honest answer? Fair enough. The KID. I'm not a strong enough player to know any of those openings (or any opening) very well at all, but as I understand them (which should be plenty good enough for the purposes of answering your question) the KID makes the most sense because it's very tactical.
Both players will make mistakes. Lots of mistakes. Nobody will understand the strategies, I don't, but that won't matter because in the KID, there are so many tactics in almost every position. Your games will be a mess, and the best tactician will win most of the time.
If you try to play the QI/NI then White is likely to get a nice position that will play itself somewhat just by following basic chess principles. I think as Black you will struggle at times. You won't know what plans you should be making, or which pawn breaks you should be making. In the KID you just push e5 and take all the hanging pieces.
This post will get criticised. That's fine. I understand why.
ChessOath wrote:
dillydream wrote:
Is there no-one out there in chess.com-land who can understand my question and answer it?
You want a straight, honest answer? Fair enough. The KID. I'm not a strong enough player to know any of those openings (or any opening) very well at all, but as I understand them (which should be plenty good enough for the purposes of answering your question) the KID makes the most sense because it's very tactical.
Both players will make mistakes. Lots of mistakes. Nobody will understand the strategies, I don't, but that won't matter because in the KID, there are so many tactics in almost every position. Your games will be a mess, and the best tactician will win most of the time.
If you try to play the QI/NI then White is likely to get a nice position that will play itself somewhat just by following basic chess principles. I think as Black you will struggle at times. You won't know what plans you should be making, or which pawn breaks you should be making. In the KID you just push e5 and take all the hanging pieces.
This post will get criticised. That's fine. I understand why.
No you can't, it's a package deal 
@ChessOath: Thank you very much. I certainly will not criticise your post, as it is the answer I was looking for. I do like tactical games, and I'm definitely not looking to memorise a zillion moves of an opening. I'm very grateful for a straight answer to a simple question. Thank you again!
dillydream wrote:
@ChessOath: Thank you very much. I certainly will not criticise your post, as it is the answer I was looking for.
No problem. It's not your criticism I'm worried about though, it's everybody else's 
Jul 27, 2016
0
#15
ChessOath escribió:
dillydream wrote:
Is there no-one out there in chess.com-land who can understand my question and answer it?
You want a straight, honest answer? Fair enough. The KID. I'm not a strong enough player to know any of those openings (or any opening) very well at all, but as I understand them (which should be plenty good enough for the purposes of answering your question) the KID makes the most sense because it's very tactical.
Both players will make mistakes. Lots of mistakes. Nobody will understand the strategies, I don't, but that won't matter because in the KID, there are so many tactics in almost every position. Your games will be a mess, and the best tactician will win most of the time.
If you try to play the QI/NI then White is likely to get a nice position that will play itself somewhat just by following basic chess principles. I think as Black you will struggle at times. You won't know what plans you should be making, or which pawn breaks you should be making. In the KID you just push e5 and take all the hanging pieces.
This post will get criticised. That's fine. I understand why.
How..How did you dare?
Vade retro, KID player. Your existence will not be tolerated for a long time. Hide if you do not want to be harrassed by the guardians of chess orthodoxy
kingofshedinjas wrote:
ChessOath escribió:
dillydream wrote:
Is there no-one out there in chess.com-land who can understand my question and answer it?
You want a straight, honest answer? Fair enough. The KID. I'm not a strong enough player to know any of those openings (or any opening) very well at all, but as I understand them (which should be plenty good enough for the purposes of answering your question) the KID makes the most sense because it's very tactical.
Both players will make mistakes. Lots of mistakes. Nobody will understand the strategies, I don't, but that won't matter because in the KID, there are so many tactics in almost every position. Your games will be a mess, and the best tactician will win most of the time.
If you try to play the QI/NI then White is likely to get a nice position that will play itself somewhat just by following basic chess principles. I think as Black you will struggle at times. You won't know what plans you should be making, or which pawn breaks you should be making. In the KID you just push e5 and take all the hanging pieces.
This post will get criticised. That's fine. I understand why.
How..How did you dare?
Vade retro, KID player. Your existence will not be tolerated for a long time. Hide if you do not want to be harrassed by the guardians of chess orthodoxy
Chess wears braces?
Jul 27, 2016
0
#17
kingofshedinjas wrote:
Making fun of death people is not fun...
What about forgetting about studying openings and learning the basics instead? Tactics, endings, etc.
Don't tell anyone I said this, or the Holy Inquisition of Chess Openings may accuse me of herecy.
kingofshedinjas wrote:
I agree with u... and your fear of being accused.
What about forgetting about studying openings and learning the basics instead? Tactics, endings, etc.
Don't tell anyone I said this, or the Holy Inquisition of Chess Openings may accuse me of herecy.
Well the authors recommend the Nimzo Indian Defense in Chess Openings for Black explained, so It must be a relatively beginner friendly Indian Defense. The pair it with Bogo Indian Defense against 3.Nf3 instead of Queen's Indian Defense, which was mentioned above.
If i were to rank Indian defenses from easiest to hardest it'll be something like
- Nimzo/ Bogo
- Nimzo/QID or QGD
- Budapest (although its soundness is often questioned)
- Old Indian Defense (relying on the fact that opponent never seen this opening before)
- King's Indian Defense (again, soundness is questioned)
- Modern Benoni
- Grunfeld (probably hardest ever chess opening ever invented)
Just play the Kings Indian if you really want one. You can play it against basically anything other than 1. e4 and the ideas are interesting. I tend to use it a lot for crushing people that have some, but very little chess knowledge, as typically they get crushed. But obviously as everyone else said, tactics and principles are key.
I understand that the Indian Defenses are not recommended for a beginner, because they are very complex. However, if a beginner wants to try one, which would be the easiest to learn?