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 Nbd7 7. O-O O-O 8. Qc2 c6 9. Rd1 h6, reaching the position shown below after 18 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 White to move after nine moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.
On the Bogo-Indian Defense generally: ECO E11. A chess opening with 17 known variations.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
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 Nbd7 7. O-O O-O 8. Qc2 c6 9. Rd1 h6. 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 Nbd7 7. O-O O-O 8. Qc2 c6 9. Rd1 h6 at +0.28 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 White to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.