Queen's Indian Defense
Also called the QID.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6
A defense for Black
Fianchetto the queen's bishop and control the centre with pieces.
Show me the opening
0 / 6 moves
The idea
Black avoids the Nimzo-Indian by preparing to fianchetto the queen's bishop to b7. The bishop on b7 provides long-term pressure on the e4 square and the long diagonal.
The plan
Develop the bishop to b7, castle, and control the centre with pieces rather than pawns. The setup is flexible and can transpose into many different structures.
What to play next
White plays g3 and Bg2 for a Catalan-like setup. Black fianchettoes with ...Bb7 and develops the bishop to e7 before castling. After both sides castle, play ...Ne4 to centralize the knight and challenge White's strong bishop on g2. The resulting position involves subtle manoeuvring.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Nc3 Ne4
Watch the typical continuation
Show me the opening
0 / 14 moves
One tip for beginners
The Queen's Indian is solid and reliable. Play ...Bb7, ...Be7, ...O-O, and ...Ne4 when you see the opportunity to centralise your knight.
What to watch out for
If White plays 4.g3, don't be afraid of the Catalan-like structure. Play ...Bb4+ or ...c5 to challenge White's centre.
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