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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Start

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g3

Bb7

...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.