Openings
- Chess Atlas Subsections
- VOL. I • Chess HistoryFrom Chaturanga to Neural Engines
- VOL. II • Classic ChessPieces, Notation & Rules
- VOL. III • Legendary PlayersPantheon of Chess Immortals
- VOL. IV • Great GamesInteractive game studies
- VOL. V • OpeningsOriginal CAISSORA Opening Articles
- VOL. VI • Tactics & StrategyForks, Pins & Board Geometry
Queen's Indian Accelerated
The bishop's diagonal first, the e6 pawn later
- Fianchetto
- Hypermodern
Black plays 2…b6 before putting a pawn on e6. The idea is the same as in the Queen's Indian: the bishop on b7 and the knight on f6 watch e4 and d5. But Black keeps the choice open: …e6, …g6 or …d5 can all still follow. The price of that flexibility is that White gets a choice too and can prepare e2-e4.
4…e6
Moves
(8 plies • 4 moves)- 1–4moves
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
Defining move
2…b6 — the bishop gets its diagonal
The move that separates this from the normal Queen's Indian
The b6 pawn prepares the fianchetto of the c8 bishop. From b7 it looks at e4 and the centre. In the normal Queen's Indian Black plays …e6 first and …b6 afterwards. Here the order is reversed, and Black keeps the choice. But White can choose as well, for instance Nc3 with e2-e4 in mind.
Tabiya
Back in the Queen's Indian
After Nc3, Bb7, Nf3 and …e6 the main Queen's Indian position arises. Black controls e4 with knight and bishop, while White has the centre and more space. Black can pin the knight with …Bb4 or prepare …d5. White often plays g3 and Bg2 or chooses the quiet a3.
White’s plan
- Pick a convenient third move: Nc3, Nf3 or g3.
- Prepare e2-e4 if Black does not answer in time with …d5.
- Set up with g3 and Bg2 or play a3 against the pin.
Black’s plan
- Place the bishop on b7 and control e4 and d5.
- Play …e6 and move into the normal Queen's Indian.
- Stop e2-e4 with …d5 if White is preparing it.
Games in the Atlas
No games in the Atlas yet