Queen's Indian Defense

The favorite weapon of Anatoly Karpov, Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen against 1.d4: harmony and long-range control.

The Queen's Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6) is one of the most respected pillars of opening theory against 1.d4. Instead of occupying the center with pawns right away, Black fianchettoes the bishop on b7 or develops it actively on a6 to exert constant laser-like pressure on the critical square e4.

Chapter 1: Modern Variation with the 4.g3 Fianchetto (4...Ba6 & 4...Bb7)

The deepest theoretical duel: Nimzowitsch's aggressive 4...Ba6 and the classical 4...Bb7.

  1. 1. QID with 4...Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+…
  2. 2. QID 4...Ba6 against 5.Qc2 and the ...c5! Counter-Thrust 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 c5…
  3. 3. Classical QID with 4...Bb7 and the 7...Ne4 Jump 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7…
  4. 4. QID with 8.Bd2 and the Dutch-style 8...f5 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7…
  5. 5. QID against 5.Nbd2 and the ...Bb7 Development 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Nbd2 Bb7…
  6. 6. QID Line with the Knight Developed to a6 (...Na6) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7…
  7. 7. QID with Direct Central Occupation 5...d5 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 d5…
  8. 8. QID 5...c5 6.d5: the d5 Pawn Gambit 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 c5…

Chapter 2: Petrosian System 4.a3 & Solid Systems with 4.e3 / 4.Bf4

How to meet the dreaded Petrosian System with ...c5 and neutralize White's early attacking attempts.

  1. 9. Petrosian System (4.a3) - Counterplay with 4...Ba6! 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7…
  2. 10. Petrosian System with Solid Development 4...Bb7 and 5...d5 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 d5…
  3. 11. Rubinstein System (4.e3 Bb7 5.Bd3 d5) 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.e3 Bb7 5.Bd3 d5…
  4. 12. QID 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.a3 d5: Transposition to the Petrosian System 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.a3 d5…
  5. 13. Attack with 4.Bg5 and the Sharp Reaction 4...h6! 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Bg5 h6 5.Bh4 Bb7…
  6. 14. White Setup with 4.Bf4 and the ...Bb7 Reply 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Bf4 Bb7 5.e3 Be7…
  7. 15. The ...b5 Gambit against 4.a3 c5 5.d5 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 c5 5.d5 b5…
  8. 16. QID 4.e3: ...Nxc3 and ...Qf6, the Trap of the e4 Push 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.e3 Bb7 5.Bd3 Ne4…