E12intermediate

Queen's Indian Defense

A solid hypermodern defense where Black fianchettoes the queen's bishop to control the central light squares, especially e4.

35%
White wins
36%
Draw
29%
Black wins

Main Line Moves

1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nf3b64.g3Bb75.Bg2Be76.O-OO-O7.Nc3Ne48.Qc2Nxc39.Qxc3

Key Ideas

  • 1Control of e4 via the fianchettoed bishop on b7
  • 2Solid and flexible pawn structure
  • 3Black maintains balance in the center
  • 4Often transposes to Catalan-like structures

Variations

Petrosian System

d4Nf6c4e6Nf3b6a3Bb7Nc3d5cxd5Nxd5

White plays a3 to prevent ...Bb4 and controls the center

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Related Openings