The East Indian Defence is a chess opening characterised by the moves: This opening has a close kinship to the more-common King's Indian Defence and is often considered a variant thereof.

The difference is that White has not yet played c4, and therefore retains some options.

If White plays an early c4, the opening will transpose into a King's Indian.

It is also possible for White to support an early e4 advance, transposing into the Pirc Defence.

Unless transposition is reached, there are four popular, independent continuations: The Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings classifies the East Indian Defence under A49 for the Przepiórka Variation and A48 for the others.