Ponderchess / Openings

Queen's Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6. Black fianchettoes the queen's bishop to control e4, leading to solid, strategic positions.

Watch it in 3D

3D lesson · 14 steps · 60 seconds

The Queen's Indian Defense in 3D

Queen's Indian Defense: Riumin Variation, move by move: d4 Nf6 c4 e6 Nf3 b6 g3 Bb7 …

Preparing your opening…

Key ideas

White often answers with g3 and Bg2, contesting the long diagonal directly.
The Petrosian Variation (4.a3) prevents ...Bb4 before developing.

Plans for White

Contest the long diagonal and aim for e4 under good circumstances.

Plans for Black

Control e4 with pieces, and use ...c5 or ...d5 to challenge the centre.

Main variations of the Queen's Indian Defense

Kasparov-Petrosian Variation1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3. Petrosian's 4.a3 stops ...Bb4, so White can develop the knight to c3 and fight for e4 without worrying about a pin.

Puzzles from the Queen's Indian Defense

Tactics that came up in real games played with this opening, from easiest to hardest.

White to move · 4 moves · Rating 1531

Find the best move, then follow the winning continuation.

Show the solution

14.Nxf6+ gxf6 15.Qxe8+ Qxe8 16.Rxe8+ Rxe8 17.Nxd4

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