ECO E15 · Queen's Indian Defense

Queen's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6

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

5. Qa4+0.35

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation (E15), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6, Stockfish 18 recommends 5. Qa4 for White. White is slightly better (+0.35).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.355. Qa4 c5 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O Nc6 9. a3 a5
  2. +0.245. b3 d5 6. Bg2 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Be7 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Nc3 O-O
  3. +0.225. Qc2 c5 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 Rc8 9. Nbd2 Bb7

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5. Qa4 for White, continuing c5 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O Nc6 9. a3 a5. White is slightly better (+0.35). The next best moves are 5. b3 (+0.24) and 5. Qc2 (+0.22).
Is the Queen's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.35: 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: Fianchetto Variation, Nimzowitsch Variation?
E15. 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+).