Queen's Indian defence

chess opening

The Queen's Indian defence is an important defence to 1.d4. It features a fianchetto of Black's QB.

The Queen's Indian defence
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
c8 black bishop
d8 black queen
e8 black king
f8 black bishop
h8 black rook
a7 black pawn
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
b6 black pawn
e6 black pawn
f6 black knight
c4 white pawn
d4 white pawn
f3 white knight
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white pawn
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
b1 white knight
c1 white bishop
d1 white queen
e1 white king
f1 white bishop
h1 white rook
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
White to move

It starts as follows:

1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 e6
3.Nf3 b6
and now 4e3, 4Nc3 and 4g3 are all possible. So is 4.a3, which prepares 5.Nc3 by preventing Black's 5...Bb4.
This is the most usual line:
abcdefgh
8
a8 black rook
b8 black knight
d8 black queen
f8 black rook
g8 black king
a7 black pawn
b7 black bishop
c7 black pawn
d7 black pawn
e7 black bishop
f7 black pawn
g7 black pawn
h7 black pawn
b6 black pawn
e6 black pawn
c4 white pawn
d4 white pawn
c3 white queen
f3 white knight
g3 white pawn
a2 white pawn
b2 white pawn
e2 white pawn
f2 white pawn
g2 white bishop
h2 white pawn
a1 white rook
c1 white bishop
f1 white rook
g1 white king
8
77
66
55
44
33
22
11
abcdefgh
Black to move after 9.Qxc3
4.g3 Bb7 (4...Ba6 is also played here)
5.Bg2 Be7
6.0-0 0-0
7.Nc3 Ne4
8.Qc2 Nxc3
9.Qxc3