Introduction to the Queen’s Indian Defense · Chess Openings

The Queen’s Indian Defense is an extremely strong opening system for black. It’s versatile, flexible, gives great attacking chances, and it doesn’t create many weaknesses.

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In this introductory video on the Queen’s Indian we are going to be covering the basics of the opening, the plans and ideas for both sides, as well as common theoretical variations you have to be aware of. Each of these will then be covered in a detailed separate video.

The Queen’s Indian starts after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6, but it could be reached by many different move orders, and many openings could transpose into it (the Nimzo, some English variations, the QGD, etc.). It’s an opening system rather than a separate opening. Unlike very theoretically strict openings like the Caro-Kann, the QID is a system because it’s the patterns and ideas that matter much more than the exact move orders.
You can enter the Queen’s Indian and then you play the system. You play the pawn breaks, you play for the known weaknesses and attacking maneuvers.

That is what makes it one of the most versatile and useful chess openings for black. It’s an opening you can play with little previous knowledge, but it can also be studied for years before being mastered. It can serve as a whole repertoire for black against d4.

#chess

30 Comments

  1. Thanks, very helpful. I was a little confused at @13:55, because you say "we already fianchettoed the bishop" and you have the bishop on g2 in the image, and you point at it while you say it. In reality the bishop is still on f1 at this point (since we are looking at responses to Ba6, and also playing e3 would do nothing to protect the pawn if the bishop was on g2). What I think you meant was that since g3 was already played, there are too many weaknesses. Am I understanding correctly?

  2. might be the best like dislike ratio on the internet

  3. “It’s the second most popular move but people don’t really play it”

  4. I know I am commenting on an old video, but I wanted you to know your opening explanations excellent.

  5. Your opening overviews videos are always cool and lovely, thanks!!

  6. stjepan can you cover the queens indian defence: the nakamura system?

  7. I love your thumbnails so much! they are excellently done

  8. Very beautiful and great knowledgeable explanations sir. Thank you👍

  9. best explained of all on yt 🙂 thx

  10. What about C5 and d5 breaks?

  11. 4:04 both side are going to fart 😂😂. Joke aside best chess channel

  12. I love the queen's Indian defense Rajesh attack variation

  13. The best video I've watched that you have done.

  14. I see people playing the Bogo Indian but not the Queen's Indian

  15. Are you from Croatia? Great video, keep up the good work

  16. Just found the channel and I’m crushing with Queens Indian, thanks

  17. It seems as though the QID is enhanced against the English since you can get in Nc6 before d4 and even go Na5 for a c5 break idea if d4 is pushed after. Is this a correct assessment?

  18. thank you so much for this upload

  19. I really like the description and the fashion in which you go over the moves and the rationale. So many don't get to the point and go off on rants and variants. i really like your style of explanation.

  20. Can I played against e4 ?

  21. Can i play knight c3 on move 3 allow the nimzo indian to avoid queens indian as white?

  22. Stjepane jako mi se sviđa kako obrađuješ otvaranja.Pratio sam dosta tvojih videa/playlisti i stvarno je izvrsno.Hvala na svemu ovo je neprocjenljivo.

  23. Here's a great tool for learning openings: https://chessbook.com/hanging-pawns

    Chessbook allows you to import and practice your repertoire. It focuses on moves people actually play as well as your mistakes. Connect it to your lichess or chess com accounts to correct the biggest gaps in your repertoire!

Comments are closed.