Answers.Body: <blockquote>
    <p>Old Indian defense variation: 1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 : how should White respond?</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>White should continue to <strong>fight for the center</strong>, as always and Black should continue developing so he can pressure Whites pawn center <strong>from afar.</strong></p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>I couldn't find this variation discussed anywhere which leads me to think it is likely an inferior line for Black. </p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>I am not surprised-Black is tempting White to <strong>overextend</strong> by chasing the knight but this is not <em>Alekhine's defense</em> and I think White can get slight advantage from this position.</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>If so, how should White continue to gain advantage? 4. e4 perhaps ? </p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>No, not <code>e4</code>. White should use this moment to seize the initiative and <strong>hinder Black's development.</strong> You see, Black's only compensation for giving White the center power is his <strong>superior development.</strong> He will use it to pressure  White's center or undermine it with flank attack. I suggest immediate <code>d5</code> as an answer. See the detailed variations below.</p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  
  1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6?! 4.d5! Nb8 ( 4...Nb4? 5.Qa4++- ) ( 4...Na5? 5.Qa4+! c6 6.b4! Nxc4 7.dxc6! b5 ( 7...bxc6? 8.Qxc6++- ) ( 7...Nb6 8.cxb7+!+- Nxa4 9.bxa8=Q Nxc3 10.Qc6+!+- ) 8.Qxb5!?+- ) ( 4...Ne5? 5.f4! Ned7 ( 5...Ng6? 6.e4 e5 7.f5! Ne7 8.Bg5!? ) 6.e4 ) 5.e4
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>and White is tempo up <strong>in all the above variations</strong> comparing to the usual <em>King's Indian defense</em> opening moves. </p>
  
  <p>Since every tempo counts in the <em>King's Indian defense</em> this is a big plus-White will be <strong>faster in reaching his typical queen side attack</strong> while Black will be one tempo behind in generating King side attack. At the very least, this should force Black into long, <strong>passive</strong> defense since he will not be able to generate typical counter-play.</p>
  
  <p>As for the moves with <code>!?</code> in the sidelines mentioned in the above diagram, you should consult the engine to find even stronger continuation-I just gave you my thought-it might not be the best move but I like the fact it maintains initiative/pressure.</p>
  
  <p>Hopefully this answer helped you. If you have further questions leave a comment and I will reply.</p>
  
  <p>Best regards.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-28T14:11:03.283Z
Answers.Text: Actually I played what in retrospect was an amazingly sheepish 4. e3. I lost the game.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Marcus Junius Brutus
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-28T14:21:26.810Z
Answers.Text: @MarcusJuniusBrutus: `e3` can pass too, but will not offer you any advantage-only equal chances. In fact it **justifies** Blacks `Nc6` move and gives him counter-play. But look at this from a brighter side-next time you will b able to demolish your opponent with this sequence of moves ;)
Answers.UserDisplayName: AlwaysLearningNewStuff
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-28T13:47:32.320Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-01-28T14:31:26.383Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2014-01-28T14:31:26.383Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: AlwaysLearningNewStuff
Answers.Body: <p>The best reply for white and most usual in that position is Nf3, just finishing development and trying to castle kingside.</p>
  
  <p>A normal continuation could be :</p>
  
  <pre><code> [FEN ""]
    1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Nf3 e5 5. e3 Bg4 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O O-O *
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Black should play e5 sooner or later or he will not gain control of the center and space for his pieces</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-01-28T11:49:27.227Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-01-28T11:49:27.227Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Panzer
Body: <p>I had the following game which transposed to an Old Indian defense position:</p>
  
  <p><code>1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3</code></p>
  
  <p>But then Black did not follow with the main line: <code>3 ... e5</code> (see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Indian_Defense" rel="nofollow">wikipedia article</a>) but rather with: <code>3... Nc6</code>. </p>
  
  <pre><code>[FEN ""]
  1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 (3... e5)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I couldn't find this variation discussed anywhere which leads me to think it is likely an inferior line for Black. If so, how should White continue to gain advantage? <code>4. e4</code> perhaps ?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-01-28T11:54:08.523Z
Comments.Text: This position sometimes occurs via `1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 d6`.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Dag Oskar Madsen
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2014-01-28T13:17:41.123Z
Comments.Text: And that line (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6) is known as "Black Knights' Tango" (new) or "Mexican Defense" (old).
Comments.UserDisplayName: RemcoGerlich
Tags: <opening><old-indian>
Title: Old Indian defense variation: 1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 : how should White respond?
ThreadText: # Old Indian defense variation: 1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 : how should White respond?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-28)
  
  I had the following game which transposed to an Old Indian defense position:
  1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3
  But then Black did not follow with the main line: 3 ... e5 (see wikipedia article) but rather with: 3... Nc6. 
  [FEN ""]
  1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 (3... e5)
  
  I couldn't find this variation discussed anywhere which leads me to think it is likely an inferior line for Black. If so, how should White continue to gain advantage? 4. e4 perhaps ?
  
  **Tags:** opening, old-indian
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: This position sometimes occurs via `1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 d6`.  
  > **username_2**: And that line (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6) is known as "Black Knights' Tango" (new) or "Mexican Defense" (old).  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2014-01-28. Score: 4 | Accepted answer
  
  Old Indian defense variation: 1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 : how should White respond?
  
  White should continue to fight for the center, as always and Black should continue developing so he can pressure Whites pawn center from afar.
  
  I couldn't find this variation discussed anywhere which leads me to think it is likely an inferior line for Black. 
  
  I am not surprised-Black is tempting White to overextend by chasing the knight but this is not Alekhine's defense and I think White can get slight advantage from this position.
  
  If so, how should White continue to gain advantage? 4. e4 perhaps ? 
  
  No, not e4. White should use this moment to seize the initiative and hinder Black's development. You see, Black's only compensation for giving White the center power is his superior development. He will use it to pressure  White's center or undermine it with flank attack. I suggest immediate d5 as an answer. See the detailed variations below.
  [FEN ""]
  
  1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6?! 4.d5! Nb8 ( 4...Nb4? 5.Qa4++- ) ( 4...Na5? 5.Qa4+! c6 6.b4! Nxc4 7.dxc6! b5 ( 7...bxc6? 8.Qxc6++- ) ( 7...Nb6 8.cxb7+!+- Nxa4 9.bxa8=Q Nxc3 10.Qc6+!+- ) 8.Qxb5!?+- ) ( 4...Ne5? 5.f4! Ned7 ( 5...Ng6? 6.e4 e5 7.f5! Ne7 8.Bg5!? ) 6.e4 ) 5.e4
  
  and White is tempo up in all the above variations comparing to the usual King's Indian defense opening moves. 
  Since every tempo counts in the King's Indian defense this is a big plus-White will be faster in reaching his typical queen side attack while Black will be one tempo behind in generating King side attack. At the very least, this should force Black into long, passive defense since he will not be able to generate typical counter-play.
  As for the moves with !? in the sidelines mentioned in the above diagram, you should consult the engine to find even stronger continuation-I just gave you my thought-it might not be the best move but I like the fact it maintains initiative/pressure.
  Hopefully this answer helped you. If you have further questions leave a comment and I will reply.
  Best regards.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Actually I played what in retrospect was an amazingly sheepish 4. e3. I lost the game.  
  > **username_3**: @MarcusJuniusBrutus: `e3` can pass too, but will not offer you any advantage-only equal chances. In fact it **justifies** Blacks `Nc6` move and gives him counter-play. But look at this from a brighter side-next time you will b able to demolish your opponent with this sequence of moves ;)  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2014-01-28. Score: 3
  
  The best reply for white and most usual in that position is Nf3, just finishing development and trying to castle kingside.
  A normal continuation could be :
   [FEN ""]
    1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Nf3 e5 5. e3 Bg4 6. Be2 Be7 7. O-O O-O *
  
  Black should play e5 sooner or later or he will not gain control of the center and space for his pieces
  
  
  ---
  
  