ECO A17 · English Opening

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

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. e4 Bb7 5. Bd3

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

5… c5+0.36

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Variation (A17), reached after 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. e4 Bb7 5. Bd3, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… c5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.36).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.365… c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. e5 Ng4 8. Be4 Qc8 9. Re1 f5 10. exf6
  2. +0.665… d6 6. Bc2 c5 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Be7 9. Be3 Nc6 10. O-O
  3. +0.675… Bb4 6. e5 Ng4 7. O-O f6 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Nxe5 10. Qxa8

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Variation?
After 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. e4 Bb7 5. Bd3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… c5 for Black, continuing 6. O-O Nc6 7. e5 Ng4 8. Be4 Qc8 9. Re1 f5 10. exf6. White is slightly better (+0.36). The next best moves are 5… d6 (+0.66) and 5… Bb4 (+0.67).
Is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Variation 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 Variation?
A17. 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+).