Queen’s Indian Defense: all variations and ECO codes

53 named lines across 8 ECO codes (E12–E19). Source: the CC0-licensed lichess.org opening database.

The idea

Black fianchettoes the queen’s bishop specifically because White has already played Nf3 - ruling out the Nimzo-Indian’s pin on c3 - and aims the bishop down the long diagonal at e4 instead. It’s a solid, flexible reply that trades the Nimzo’s structural ambitions for straightforward piece pressure.

The main line

Position after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 (E12). Open this line on Lichess → · Queen’s Indian Defense on Lichess

How the main line scores at your rating

Real Lichess win rates for 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6, playing as black: the family’s other variations are not separately tracked for win rate yet, main line only.

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Win/draw/loss rate by rating band
Rating bandGamesWhite / draw / BlackScore for black
1400-16000Not enough games at this band yet.
1600-18000Not enough games at this band yet.
1800-200086Not enough games at this band yet.
2000+254Not enough games at this band yet.

All 53 named variations

Every named line in the Queen’s Indian Defense family, from the CC0-licensed ECO classification: not separately tracked for win rate, but every ECO code and move sequence is real, sourced data.

Browse more

ECO Volume E: Indian Defenses → · All ECO families → · Search and play every line in the interactive explorer →

Related

Bogo-Indian Defense

21 named lines, ECO E11

Catalan Opening

32 named lines, ECO E00

King’s Indian Defense

119 named lines, ECO E60