Queen's Indian defence

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

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

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:

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

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