ECO E17 · Queen's Indian Defense

Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O

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

6… d5+0.42

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation (E17), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… d5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.42).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.426… d5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Ne5 Na6 10. Bf4 c5 11. Qa4
  2. +0.426… O-O 7. Nc3 d5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Ne5 Na6 10. Qa4 Qe8 11. Bg5
  3. +0.526… Na6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Bf4 d5 9. Ne5 c5 10. Rc1 Qe8 11. Nb5

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… d5 for Black, continuing 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Ne5 Na6 10. Bf4 c5 11. Qa4. White is slightly better (+0.42). The next best moves are 6… O-O (+0.42) and 6… Na6 (+0.52).
Is the Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.42: 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: Classical Variation?
E17. 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+).