Queen's Indian Defense

The Queen's Indian Defense arises when White plays d4, c4, and Nf3 and Black answers with ...Nf6, ...e6, and ...b6. The move ...b6 prepares the light-squared bishop for b7, where it can pressure central squares along a long diagonal.

This is a hypermodern approach: Black allows White to occupy part of the center with pawns instead of filling it immediately with black pawns. Black then attacks that center with pieces and pawn breaks, pawn moves intended to challenge the opposing pawns. Common ideas include ...Bb7, ...Be7, ...O-O, followed by ...d5 or ...c5 when the position allows.

The Queen's Indian pressures the center from afar

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Startb6g3Bb7

...b6 prepares development on the long diagonal without fixing Black's central pawns yet.

Nf3 avoids the Nimzo-Indian pin

Because c3 remains empty, Black chooses another way to develop the light-squared bishop.

1. ...b6 prepares development on the long diagonal without fixing Black's central pawns yet.

White's choice of Nf3 initially avoids the Nimzo-Indian Defense, which requires a white knight on c3. The Queen's Indian and the Bogo-Indian Defense are therefore natural Black choices when that knight has not gone to c3.