ECO E18 · Queen's Indian Defense

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

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 d5

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

8. cxd5+0.36

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation, Nimzowitsch Line (E18), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 d5, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. cxd5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.36).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.368. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. Bf4 Nd7 11. Qa4 c5 12. Rfd1 Re8
  2. +0.338. Ne5 Nbd7 9. Bf4 c5 10. Rc1 cxd4 11. Qxd4 Bc5 12. Qd1 Re8
  3. +0.208. Qa4 Qe8 9. Qxe8 Rxe8 10. cxd5 Nxd5 11. Ne5 Na6 12. Rd1 Rad8

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation, Nimzowitsch Line?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 d5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. cxd5 for White, continuing Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. Bf4 Nd7 11. Qa4 c5 12. Rfd1 Re8. White is slightly better (+0.36). The next best moves are 8. Ne5 (+0.33) and 8. Qa4 (+0.20).
Is the Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation, Nimzowitsch Line 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 Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation, Nimzowitsch Line?
E18. 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+).