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Indian Defense: West Indian Defense: what to play after g6?
Best move
h4+0.29
By pushing the h4 pawn, you are launching an immediate flank attack against Black's intended Kingside fianchetto. This move creates space and prepares to soften up the g5 square…
- Games played
- 40M
- To move
- White
- Evaluation
- +0.29
- Depth
- 25
Game counts: Lichess opening book. Move ranking and evaluation: Stockfish. How this page is built
Why h4 is the best move
h4! — Excellent Choice!
✅ One of 5 top moves — you found a brilliant, aggressive strategy!
Why this move is excellent:
By pushing the h4 pawn, you are launching an immediate flank attack against Black's intended Kingside fianchetto. This move creates space and prepares to soften up the g5 square, forcing Black to react to your aggression before they can finish developing.
Multiple Valid Strategies
| Move | Eval | Style / Strategic Idea |
|---|---|---|
| h4 | +0.29 | Aggressive: Direct flank attack against the g7 setup. |
| Nf3 | +0.23 | Classical: Flexible development controlling the center. |
| Nc3 | +0.21 | Solid: The most common human choice, reinforcing d5. |
| h3 | +0.17 | Prophylactic: A slower setup, preventing g4 or g4 jumps. |
| e3 | +0.15 | Positional: Solidifying the center and opening the f1. |
Different paths, same destination: While most players (40%) prefer the standard development of Nc3, your choice of h4 is a rare "engine move" that humans almost never find (0% avg). You’ve opted for a sharp, modern approach that puts immediate pressure on Black's structure rather than playing a quiet positional game.
Your Continuation
After h4:
Bg7 Nc3 d6 e4 c5
What Made This Move Good
You correctly saw: That Black's King's Indian/Grünfeld setup allows White to be provocative on the rim. By challenging the g6 structure early, you disrupt Black's comfort zone.
📚 Takeaway: In positions with multiple good moves, trust your style! You found a high-level, aggressive alternative that most humans completely overlook.
What else gets played here
Move choices from 40M games in the opening book, with the engine's evaluation of each.
| Move | Evaluation | Played | Games | White score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nc3 | +0.21 | 33M | 50% | |
| Nf3 | +0.23 | 4.91M | 50% | |
| e3 | +0.15 | 1.73M | 47% | |
| h4Engine pick | +0.29 | 89K | 51% | |
| h3 | +0.17 | 0 | — |
The line
More positions in the Indian Defense
- Best moved5Pawn d7 → d5Indian Defense: Accelerated London System33M games
- Best moved5Pawn d7 → d5Indian Defense24M games
- Best moveNc3Knight b1 → c3Indian Defense: Anti-Nimzo-Indian21M games
- Best movee6Pawn e7 → e6Indian Defense21M games
- Best movec4Pawn c2 → c4Indian Defense: Knights Variation15M games
- Best moveQe2Queen d1 → e2Indian Defense: Omega Gambit2.19M games
Frequently asked questions
What is the best move for White in the Indian Defense: West Indian Defense?
h4 (+0.29). By pushing the h4 pawn, you are launching an immediate flank attack against Black's intended Kingside fianchetto. This move creates space and prepares to soften up the g5 square…
Why is h4 the best move here?
By pushing the h4 pawn, you are launching an immediate flank attack against Black's intended Kingside fianchetto. This move creates space and prepares to soften up the g5 square, forcing Black to react to your aggression before they can finish developing.
How often does this position occur?
This position has been reached 40M times in the opening book.