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Dr. S. G. Tartakower coined the term "Indian Defences" in 1924, distinguishing between "Old Indian" and "New Indian" systems. This book is the first monograph on the Old Indian Defence.

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The Hanham Variation of the Old Indian Defence is known as a solid setup quite similar (or even identical) to the original Hanham line in the Philidor Defence. However, a thorough investigation of the Hanham Old Indian is not available so far. The book presented here intends to offer a systematic synopsis of the Old Indian main line, i.e. all variations in which Black has to play against the "classic" e4/d4/c4 center formation. After an introducing survey on the history of the Old Indian Defence (including ten selected master games played with this opening), the systematic part is divided into seven chapters: The classical main line (White plays Be2), the fianchetto line (White plays Nf3 and g3, Bg2), the Nge2 fianchetto line (White plays Nge2 and g3, Bg2), the Nge2 side lines (Nge2 combined with various moves as h3, Be3), the Sämisch line (White plays f2-f3), the early blockade variations (d4-d5 combined with various setups as Bd3, Nge2) and finally a chapter on miscellaneous sidelines.

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