Opening Overview

Queen's Indian Defense

53 lines
black repertoire

About This Opening

Queen's Indian Defense is a flexible, hypermodern opening that delays direct central occupation and instead pressures the center from the wings.

The opening usually invites White to occupy space, then challenges that center with piece pressure, pawn breaks, and flexible development.

In practice, the key is to know when to strike at the center and when to keep pieces flexible, because the wrong timing can leave the position passive.

Key ideas
  • Typical theme: pressure on the center rather than immediate occupation.
  • Common plans include fianchetto setups and timely pawn breaks.
  • Best for players who like asymmetry and counterplay.
  • Study the transition from setup to active central challenge.

Choose a variation

Queen's Indian Defense
E12 6 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6
Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov Variation
E12 7 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3
Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov Variation, Botvinnik Attack
E12 14 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 g5 7. Bg3 Nh5
Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation
E12 9 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3
Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Andersson Variation
E12 10 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 Ne4
Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Classical Variation
E12 12 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 exd5
Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Hedgehog Variation
E12 10 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 g6
Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Kasparov Attack
E12 13 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Qc2
Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Main Line
E12 10 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5
Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Marco Defense
E12 10 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 Be7
Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Modern Variation
E12 12 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5
Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Petrosian Attack
E12 13 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e3
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