ECO E19 · Queen's Indian Defense

Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation, Main Line

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qc2 Nxc3 9. Qxc3

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

9… c5+0.30

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation, Main Line (E19), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qc2 Nxc3 9. Qxc3, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… c5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.30).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.309… c5 10. Rd1 Na6 11. b3 Bf6 12. Bb2 d5 13. Qc2 Rc8 14. dxc5
  2. +0.389… Na6 10. Bf4 c5 11. Rad1 d6 12. Rfe1 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Bxg2 14. Kxg2
  3. +0.469… d5 10. cxd5 Bxd5 11. Bf4 Bd6 12. Qc2 Bxf4 13. gxf4 f5 14. Rfd1

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation, Main Line?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qc2 Nxc3 9. Qxc3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… c5 for Black, continuing 10. Rd1 Na6 11. b3 Bf6 12. Bb2 d5 13. Qc2 Rc8 14. dxc5. White is slightly better (+0.30). The next best moves are 9… Na6 (+0.38) and 9… d5 (+0.46).
Is the Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.30: 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, Traditional Variation, Main Line?
E19. 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+).