Answers.Body: <p>The main advantage of the Queen's Indian defense is that it gives a good development to the light squared bishop, otherwise Black's problem piece, along the long diagonal.</p>
  
  <p>Because it involves a "slow" development, it gives White a chance to overreach.</p>
  
  <p>For the above reasons, it was a favorite opening of (then) World Champion, J.R. Capablanca (nearly a century ago).</p>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2014-02-01T23:38:49.267Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-02-01T23:38:49.267Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Tom Au
Answers.Body: <p>The key ideas for Black in the <code>Queen's Indian Defense</code> is to:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Restrain White in the center</li>
  <li>Quick Development</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>The <code>Queen's Indian Defense</code> can be reached after the moves:</p>
  
  <pre><code>    [FEN ""]
      1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>In the <code>Queen's Indian Defense</code>, black is going aim his light-squared bishop and knight at <code>e4</code> in order to restrain the moves <code>e4</code> and to prevent <code>d4 to d5</code>.</p>
  
  <p>White's most popular move is <code>4...g3</code> in which white aims to complete development on the king side and counter black on the long diagonal.</p>
  
  <p>A key position is reached after the following:</p>
  
  <pre><code>    [FEN ""]
      1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>In the above position, <code>7...d5</code> might seem like a logical move, but it is against the spirit of the opening which say's that Black should be waiting for the most opportune moment to make moves like <code>7...d5</code> which occupy the center until the timing is just right. Also, after exchanging pawns on  <code>d5</code>, black finds himself with 2 problems, the bishop on <code>b7</code> is blocked in and the <code>c pawn</code> is on an open file and becomes vulnerable to attack.  For example, after white plays <code>Bf4</code> to eye the <code>c pawn</code>, Black would like to move his pawn to <code>c5</code>, but after the following:</p>
  
  <pre><code>    [FEN ""]
      1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 d5 8. cxd5 exd5  
      9. Bf4 c5 10. dxc5 bxc5
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The above leaves Black with a hanging pawn formation. The d and c pawns are extremely vulnerable and if white can quickly generate an attack such as <code>11. Ne5</code> generating a third attacker and pinning the pawn.  Black may continue <code>11...Na6</code> and now white has <code>12. Nc4</code> taking advantage of the pin with the mindset of getting his knight to <code>e3</code>, so Black often plays <code>Qd7</code>, but White just plays <code>Na5</code></p>
  
  <p>Going back to positon after <code>7. Nc3</code>, we just illustrated that <code>7...d5</code> is not a logical move for black, so instead he plays <code>7...Ne4</code> directly occupying the <code>e4</code> square making it impossible for white to play <code>e4</code> and he wants to use his <code>f pawn</code> to strengthen his hold over the <code>e4</code> square and he won't block the diagonal of his bishop.  After the following:</p>
  
  <pre><code>    [FEN ""]
      1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 
      8. Nxe4 Bxe4 9. Ne1 Bxg2 10. Nxg2 d5
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Black is now willing to play <code>d5</code> because there is not bishop on <code>b7</code> anymore and he can now gain share of the center and the position is about equal, so after <code>7...Ne4</code>, white often plays <code>8. Qc2</code>, <code>8...f5</code> looks like a natural response, but white plays <code>9. Ne5</code> and would black would quickly find himself in trouble after:</p>
  
  <pre><code>    [FEN ""]
      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 f5 9. Ne5 d6 10. Nxe4 fxe4 11. Bxe4
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>In the above diagram, black does not have time to capture the <code>knight</code> because of the <code>bishop</code> and <code>queen</code> staring down the diagonal, so instead of <code>8...f5</code>, black should play <code>8...Nxc3 9. Qxc3 f5</code>.  White still has in mind one other factor to gain an advantage.  In addition to still play pawn to <code>e4</code>, he also counts on the fact that blacks <code>e6</code> pawn will become weak if black plays <code>d6</code> eventually, so for example:</p>
  
  <pre><code>    [FEN ""]
      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 f5 10. b3 Bf6 11. Bb2 d6 12. Rad1 Qe7 13. Ne1 Bxg2 14. Nxg2 Nd7 
     15. Qc2.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>White is looking for small small initiative based upon the weakness of the <code>e6</code> pawn, so in the end the fight for <code>e4</code> is the major theme that holds the entire <code>Queen's Indian</code> together.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-01-14T20:05:06.547Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-01-14T21:52:55.733Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2013-01-14T21:52:55.733Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: xaisoft
Body: <p>There's no real surprise when it comes to the strategy for the King's Indian Defence: storm white's king side, maybe sac a few things, and mate (ideally).</p>
  
  <p>But what does a practitioner of the QID hope to achieve in terms of the opening and long term goals?</p>
  
  <p><code>1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 b6</code></p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2013-01-14T00:19:20.447Z
Comments.Text: The Queen's Indian is usually reached via `3.Nf3 b6`. You've included the moves `3.Nc3 b6` instead, but while this *could* transpose to a QID, it probably shouldn't, because in this move order Black has done nothing to prevent `4.e4`. The QID often gets paired with the Nimzo-Indian in repertoires. In response to `3.Nc3`, the Nimzo comes out via `3...Bb4`. And when White instead plays `3.Nf3` (sometimes specifically to avoid the Nimzo), then Black heads into the QID with `3...b6`.
Comments.UserDisplayName: ETD
Tags: <opening><strategy><theory><1.d4><queens-indian>
Title: What are the main ideas and goals in the Queen's Indian Defense?
ThreadText: # What are the main ideas and goals in the Queen's Indian Defense?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2013-01-13)
  
  There's no real surprise when it comes to the strategy for the King's Indian Defence: storm white's king side, maybe sac a few things, and mate (ideally).
  
  But what does a practitioner of the QID hope to achieve in terms of the opening and long term goals?
  
  `1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 b6`
  
  **Tags:** opening, strategy, theory, 1.d4, queens-indian
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: The Queen's Indian is usually reached via `3.Nf3 b6`. You've included the moves `3.Nc3 b6` instead, but while this *could* transpose to a QID, it probably shouldn't, because in this move order Black has done nothing to prevent `4.e4`. The QID often gets paired with the Nimzo-Indian in repertoires. In response to `3.Nc3`, the Nimzo comes out via `3...Bb4`. And when White instead plays `3.Nf3` (sometimes specifically to avoid the Nimzo), then Black heads into the QID with `3...b6`.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2013-01-14. Score: 13 | Accepted answer
  
  The key ideas for Black in the `Queen's Indian Defense` is to:
  
  * Restrain White in the center
  * Quick Development
  
  The `Queen's Indian Defense` can be reached after the moves:
  
  ```
      [FEN ""]
      1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6
  
  ```
  
  In the `Queen's Indian Defense`, black is going aim his light-squared bishop and knight at `e4` in order to restrain the moves `e4` and to prevent `d4 to d5`.
  
  White's most popular move is `4...g3` in which white aims to complete development on the king side and counter black on the long diagonal.
  
  A key position is reached after the following:
  
  ```
      [FEN ""]
      1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3
  
  ```
  
  In the above position, `7...d5` might seem like a logical move, but it is against the spirit of the opening which say's that Black should be waiting for the most opportune moment to make moves like `7...d5` which occupy the center until the timing is just right. Also, after exchanging pawns on `d5`, black finds himself with 2 problems, the bishop on `b7` is blocked in and the `c pawn` is on an open file and becomes vulnerable to attack. For example, after white plays `Bf4` to eye the `c pawn`, Black would like to move his pawn to `c5`, but after the following:
  
  ```
      [FEN ""]
      1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 d5 8. cxd5 exd5  
      9. Bf4 c5 10. dxc5 bxc5
  
  ```
  
  The above leaves Black with a hanging pawn formation. The d and c pawns are extremely vulnerable and if white can quickly generate an attack such as `11. Ne5` generating a third attacker and pinning the pawn. Black may continue `11...Na6` and now white has `12. Nc4` taking advantage of the pin with the mindset of getting his knight to `e3`, so Black often plays `Qd7`, but White just plays `Na5`
  
  Going back to positon after `7. Nc3`, we just illustrated that `7...d5` is not a logical move for black, so instead he plays `7...Ne4` directly occupying the `e4` square making it impossible for white to play `e4` and he wants to use his `f pawn` to strengthen his hold over the `e4` square and he won't block the diagonal of his bishop. After the following:
  
  ```
      [FEN ""]
      1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 
      8. Nxe4 Bxe4 9. Ne1 Bxg2 10. Nxg2 d5
  
  ```
  
  Black is now willing to play `d5` because there is not bishop on `b7` anymore and he can now gain share of the center and the position is about equal, so after `7...Ne4`, white often plays `8. Qc2`, `8...f5` looks like a natural response, but white plays `9. Ne5` and would black would quickly find himself in trouble after:
  
  ```
      [FEN ""]
      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 f5 9. Ne5 d6 10. Nxe4 fxe4 11. Bxe4
  
  ```
  
  In the above diagram, black does not have time to capture the `knight` because of the `bishop` and `queen` staring down the diagonal, so instead of `8...f5`, black should play `8...Nxc3 9. Qxc3 f5`. White still has in mind one other factor to gain an advantage. In addition to still play pawn to `e4`, he also counts on the fact that blacks `e6` pawn will become weak if black plays `d6` eventually, so for example:
  
  ```
      [FEN ""]
      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 f5 10. b3 Bf6 11. Bb2 d6 12. Rad1 Qe7 13. Ne1 Bxg2 14. Nxg2 Nd7 
     15. Qc2.
  
  ```
  
  White is looking for small small initiative based upon the weakness of the `e6` pawn, so in the end the fight for `e4` is the major theme that holds the entire `Queen's Indian` together.
  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2014-02-01. Score: 0
  
  The main advantage of the Queen's Indian defense is that it gives a good development to the light squared bishop, otherwise Black's problem piece, along the long diagonal.
  
  Because it involves a "slow" development, it gives White a chance to overreach.
  
  For the above reasons, it was a favorite opening of (then) World Champion, J.R. Capablanca (nearly a century ago).
  
  
  ---
  
  