Queen's Indian Defence
Learn the Queen's Indian Defence by playing the moves. Practise the Petrosian System, the Classical Fianchetto, the ...Ba6 lines and the Nimzowitsch 4.e3 one line at a time.
Best for: Positional players · ECO E12-E19 · First moves: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6
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Position after the Queen's Indian Defence setup
Common replies
Standard lines you'll meet most of the time. Begin with the recommended classical fianchetto, then work through the rest.
Classical Fianchetto
The classical fianchetto setup and the ...Ne4 central resource.
Both sides fianchetto and fight for the long diagonal. Black plays ...Ne4 to contest the centre directly, reaching one of the most reliable positions available against 1.d4.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Ba6 Variation
Gaining tempi by attacking the c4 pawn early.
Black hits the c4 pawn immediately with ...Ba6, forcing White to spend time defending. The check on b4 then gains another tempo before Black settles into a solid setup.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Petrosian System
Meeting the Petrosian a3 system with a timely ...d5.
White plays a3 to rule out ...Bb4 and then builds the ideal centre with Nc3. Black challenges with ...d5 and reaches a comfortable, symmetrical structure.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Nimzowitsch Variation
Equalising comfortably against quiet development.
White develops quietly with e3 and Bd3. Black mirrors the setup with ...d5 and ...Be7, reaching a balanced middlegame where small plans decide the outcome.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Buerger Variation
Recognising the Buerger pawn break and the Ng5 resource.
Black challenges with ...c5, White closes with d5, and Ng5 immediately questions the b7 bishop. This is a sharper fianchetto branch with concrete tactical pressure.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Bf4 System
Neutralising an active bishop with straightforward development.
White develops the bishop actively before e3. Black plays ...Be7 and ...d5 and equalises comfortably, with the usual solid Queen's Indian structure.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Fianchetto with ...d5
Steering into a familiar Queen's Gambit structure.
Black converts to a Queen's Gambit structure by playing ...d5. Symmetrical, safe and easy to handle, with clear plans on both sides of the board.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Sharper options
More aggressive or off-beat lines. Add these once the main setup feels natural.
Polugaevsky Gambit
Handling a pawn sacrifice for initiative in a solid opening.
Black plays ...c6 and ...d5, and White offers a pawn with Ne5 to seize the initiative. Sharp, concrete play in an otherwise quiet opening.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Advanced hybrids
Structurally different lines for established players. Best learned after the main setup is automatic.
Petrosian with ...Ba6
Provoking commitments before counterattacking the centre.
Black provokes Qc2 before returning the bishop to b7. White builds a big centre with e4, and Black hits it with ...c5 to open lines for the pieces.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Spassky System
Playing against an isolated queen's pawn from the black side.
Black plays ...c5 rather than ...d5, inviting an isolated queen's pawn structure. Active piece play and clear plans against the d4 pawn.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Fianchetto with Nbd2
Reacting when White defends c4 with the knight.
White defends c4 with the knight instead of b3, keeping the queenside pawns flexible. Black returns the bishop to b7 and hits the centre with ...c5.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Averbakh Variation
Striking at the centre the moment White plays e4.
White completes the fianchetto and pushes e4 for a big centre. Black hits it immediately with ...d5, opening lines before White consolidates.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Riumin Variation
Using the ...Bb4+ check without committing to a bishop trade.
Black checks on b4 and then retreats after Bd2, keeping the bishop pair flexible without forcing an immediate trade. A subtle fianchetto line where move order matters.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Fianchetto with Nh4
Fighting for the long diagonal after a central pawn push.
White pushes d5 and manoeuvres the knight to h4 to challenge the b7 bishop. Precise piece play follows, with the long diagonal as the main battleground.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Old Main Line
Meeting an early pin with an aggressive pawn advance.
White plays Nc3 and pins with Bg5, and Black kicks the bishop and grabs kingside space. Sharper than most Queen's Indian lines and full of concrete play.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Petrosian with ...c5
Transposing into Benoni structures with an extra tempo.
Black strikes at d4 before developing the bishop. White closes with d5 and the game takes on Benoni-like features, with Black fianchettoing on the kingside.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Qa4 System
Exploiting an early queen sortie with the ...c5 break.
White defends c4 with the queen from a4. Black returns the bishop to b7, breaks with ...c5, and takes advantage of the queen's exposed placement.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Kasparov-Petrosian Line
Defending accurately against a disruptive early check.
White plays a3 and Nc3 and pins with Bg5, then checks on a4 to disrupt Black's development. Accurate defence gives Black a solid but slightly passive game.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Hedgehog Setup
Setting up the hedgehog and preparing the freeing breaks.
Black builds the classic hedgehog with pawns on a6, b6, d6 and e6, coiled behind White's big centre. The whole system is about waiting for the perfect ...b5 or ...d5 break.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Classical with ...Bf6
Supporting the ...Ne4 outpost with the dark-squared bishop.
Black supports the e4 knight with ...Bf6, increasing the pressure on d4 and the long diagonal. A precise way to fight for full equality in the main line.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6…
Learn more about the Queen's Indian Defence
12 sections covering move order, plans, structures, who it suits, and more.
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Another defence for Black
King's Indian Defence
A hypermodern opening where Black allows White to build a broad pawn centre, then strikes back with ...e5 or ...c5. The fianchettoed bishop on g7 becomes a powerful long-range weapon.
Pair this with an opening for White
London System
A solid d4 opening where White develops the dark-squared bishop to f4 early, building a resilient pawn triangle on c3-d4-e3. Low on theory and high on plans, making it an ideal weapon at all levels.
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Ruy Lopez
The king of 1.e4 openings - White develops the bishop to b5, pressuring the knight that defends e5. A cornerstone of top-level chess, it leads to deep strategic battles from slow manoeuvring to explosive attacks.
Practise the Queen's Indian Defence against real opponents
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