Playing against the Queen's Indian as White

cool

If anyone knows any 4.a3 lines, please post them here. If you have any other QID knowledge, feel free to let us know here.

I agree that the Nimzo-Indian gives White better chances of winning, but isn't Petrosian's variation 4. a3 also regarded as a good way to play aggressively against the Queen's Indian, while the 4. g3 variation is seen as drawish and boring?

4. e3 was also played by Spassky and I believe other Soviet champions played it. Doesn't it have concepts similar to that of the Rubenstein variation in the Nimzo-Indian, where White will play Bd3, Qc2, sometimes Nge2 and Ng3 to attack e4 and try to get e4 in?

I've never looked at the variation extensively, but this was the impression that I had of it.

I would think that in the QID line, you would have to get f3 in there somewhere because of the pressure that ...Bb7 would exert on the long diagonal.

Also, maybe not, because I doubt that many a black player would give up the Bb7 for the Nf3.

Against 4.a3 a common response for black is 4...d5. The argument for this is that 4.a3 is a slow move - albeit one that shuts down a key thematic option (...Bb4) - therefore strike in the centre as you now have as QGD position with tempii.

While it is the mainline against 4. g3, 4...Ba6 doesn't make sense when 4. a3 has been played, as the whole point of the move is to induce 5. b3 to protect the c-pawn and then force the queen's Knight to d2 (in defence of ...Bb4+) when it would have been much happier on c3.

4...Bb7 is also playable.

I like the idea, but what's the problem with simply kicking the f5-Knight with g6?

Kingside fianchetto with g6 is probably most common, and slightly best. But is about personal taste? For example I like to avoid the Nimzo with f3, because I prefer to face d5 or QID. And meet QID with e3, Spassky system, which is very solid. Probably not very best or exciting, but at my level is comfortable. And a6 to stop the bishop goes well too. But playing as white, the QID is not a scary opening?! Much easier than facing the dreaded NimzoIndian.

Yes, but you gain much more activity with white against the Nimzo-Indian than you do against the Queen's Indian.

But Nimzo guys have a plan B right? So if we assume Nimzo is plan A... by avoiding you make them go plan B? As in QID, Bogo, d5 etc. Which they will be less familiar with.

Yes, you have to have a plan B if you intend to play Nimzo-Indian. If White goes 3. Nf3, Black has four moves:

3...b6 (Queen's Indian Defense)

3... Bb4+ (Bogo-Indian Defence)

3... d5 (Queen's Gambit Declined)

3... c5 (Benoni)

So I play Nimzo-Indian and in general against 3. Nf3 I play the Bogo-Indian because of the possible transposition with 4. Nc3 and also because many of the strategic themes are similar to the Nimzo-Indian.

While the Queen's Indian has some different strategic ideas, especially against variation like 4. a3, somethink you generally won't see in the Nimzo-Indian (as the bishop is already on b4, a3 can only dislodge it, not prevent it to try to fight for e4).

Well, from the first move against 1.d4 you either go for the Indian defenses with 1... Nf6 or you go into the Queen's Gambit with 1... d5. I don't understand how you want the Nimzo-Indian to be a Plan B defense if Queen's Gambit Declined is your first choice

You see, in the Nimzo-Indian, Black will generally refrain from pushing d5, as his objective is to control e4 with pieces such as the Nf6 and Bb7

That was my view on a QID/Nimzo repertoire. However, many players choose to transpose into the QGD when faced with 3. Nf3, playing 3... d5. As far as I know, though, you can't transpose to a Nimzo from a QGD

I see what you mean. The Queen's Indian and Queen's Gambit Declined are both solid, even though they don't often share the same strategic themes.

However, the Nimzo-Indian with Black has completely different strategic themes. As Black, you try to pressurize the c3 and c4 pawns, and you will often obtain good piece play and play in the center.

I've actually never played the Benoni on move 2 (1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5) because the lines with f4 and e4-e5 seem dangerous. If you're planning to play the Benoni, you should use the move order 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5. Against 3. Nc3, though, you need to know either the Nimzo-Indian or the Queen's Gambit Declined.

I know this is a bit of a miscellaneous post, but you mentioned the Benoni so I wanted to put this out there.