Chess Opening Tutorial : Queen's Indian Defense

3...b6 4.g3 Bb7

• 5...Be7, and now both players can continue classically with 6.O-O O-O 7.Nc3 (7.d5 is interesting) 7...Ne4. Now the move 7...d5 has the disadvantage of blocking the Bishop on b7; other tries are 7...Be4, 7...Nc6, and 7...c5.

  Black's last move (7...Ne4) obstructs e2-e4. Now White has the choice of several plans.

  • If White continues 8.Qc2 Nxc3 9.Qxc3, Black has 9...c5 or 9...f5, two moves often used in the fight for e4.
  • White can also exchange minor pieces with 8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.Ne1 Bxg2 10.Nxg2.
  • After the quieter 8.Bd2, Black has 8...Bf6 or 8...f5.

  Another idea is 6.Nc3 Ne4 (6...O-O 7.O-O leads to a position we just saw) 7.Bd2 Bf6 and now 8.O-O or 8.Qc2.
  
  

• 5...Bb4+ and now 6.Bd2 can be followed by 6...Bxd2+ (but avoiding 7.Qxd2 O-O 8.Nc3 Ne4? 9.Qc2 Nxc3 10.Ng5, winning the exchange), 6...a5, 6...Be7, or 6...Qe7. The more passive 6.Nbd2 allows 6...O-O or 6...Be7.
  
  

Index: Chess Opening Tutorial : Queen's Indian Defense

1. Introduction
2. The fight for e4
3. Other 3rd moves for Black
4. 3...b6 4.g3 Ba6
5. 3...b6 4.g3 Bb7
6. 3...b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.a3
7. 3...b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.Bg5++
8. 3...b6 4.a3
9. 3...b6 4.e3
10. 3...Bb4+