The Retreat Variation is a variation of the Bogo-Indian Defense, catalogued as ECO E11. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Bg2 d5 6. Nf3, reaching the position shown below after 11 half-moves.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4, Black on d5), and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is Black to move after six moves.
On the Bogo-Indian Defense generally: ECO E11. A chess opening with 17 known variations.
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See all 12 Bogo-Indian Defense variations →
The Retreat Variation goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Bg2 d5 6. Nf3. It is a variation of the Bogo-Indian Defense and is catalogued as ECO E11.
The Retreat Variation is ECO E11. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Bogo-Indian Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Bg2 d5 6. Nf3 at +0.35 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
Both sides have pawns in the centre (White on d4, Black on d5), and one pawn capture is available, so the structure has not settled yet. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is Black to move.