Chess opening · ECO E12
Queen's Indian Defense
The Queen's Indian Defense starts 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6. It ranks #138 of the 174 openings on this site by how often rated players on Lichess reach it.
Move by move
- 1. d4White pushes the d-pawn two squares to d4, staking a claim in the center.
- 1... Nf6Black develops the kingside knight to f6.
- 2. c4White pushes the c-pawn two squares to c4.
- 2... e6Black advances the e-pawn to e6.
- 3. Nf3White develops the kingside knight to f3.
- 3... b6Black advances the b-pawn to b6.
What players choose next, by rating
The three most common White moves from this position in rated Lichess games, grouped by the rating of the player making the move. Among players rated 1200–1399, the most popular next move is Nc3; among players rated 2000 and up, it is g3.
| Rating | Most common | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1200–1399 | Nc3 100% | – | – |
| 1400–1599 | Nc3 41% | e3 19% | Bg5 18% |
| 1600–1799 | Nc3 36% | g3 30% | a3 12% |
| 1800–1999 | g3 42% | Nc3 35% | a3 10% |
| 2000 and up | g3 59% | Nc3 29% | Bg5 8% |
Related openings
Practice it against a human-like opponent.
BeaconChess opponents open from these same books, then play human-like moves for their level while the coach explains your moves in plain English. The first coached game is free.
Play a free coached game →Played this opening recently?
Paste the game into the free analyzer to find the moves that cost you, with each mistake explained. Three analyses are free, with no email or card.
Analyze a game free →