ECO A15 · English Opening

English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Formation

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3. d4+0.36

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Formation (A15), reached after 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6, Stockfish 18 recommends 3. d4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.36).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.363. d4 e6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 a5 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. O-O O-O
  2. +0.313. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Bg7
  3. +0.303. Nc3 Bb7 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. d4 cxd4

Other move orders

  • 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6
  • 1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Formation?
After 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3. d4 for White, continuing e6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 a5 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. O-O O-O. White is slightly better (+0.36). The next best moves are 3. g3 (+0.31) and 3. Nc3 (+0.30).
Is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Formation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.36: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Formation?
A15. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).