ECO E16 · Queen's Indian Defense

Queen's Indian Defense: Capablanca Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+

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

6. Bd2+0.45

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Indian Defense: Capablanca Variation (E16), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Bd2 for White. White is slightly better (+0.45).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.456. Bd2 a5 7. O-O O-O 8. a3 Bxd2 9. Qxd2 h6 10. Rd1 d5
  2. +0.256. Nbd2 O-O 7. O-O d5 8. Ne5 Be7 9. b3 Nbd7 10. Bb2 c5
  3. +0.096. Nc3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 O-O 8. O-O Re8 9. Re1 h6 10. a4 Be4

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. O-O
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. O-O d5
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. O-O a5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Indian Defense: Capablanca Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Bd2 for White, continuing a5 7. O-O O-O 8. a3 Bxd2 9. Qxd2 h6 10. Rd1 d5. White is slightly better (+0.45). The next best moves are 6. Nbd2 (+0.25) and 6. Nc3 (+0.09).
Is the Queen's Indian Defense: Capablanca Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.45: 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 Queen's Indian Defense: Capablanca Variation?
E16. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; E is the volume for indian defenses.

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