Anglo-Indian Defense, Queen's Indian Formation

The Queen's Indian Formation arises after 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 (ECO A15). Black prepares ...Bb7, aiming the bishop down the long diagonal at e4 and White's kingside, and leaves the central and c-pawns uncommitted. Because White has not yet played d4, the setup can still become a genuine Queen's Indian Defense, or it can stay in English territory. There Black often adds ...e6 and ...c5 in Hedgehog fashion, or ...g6 for a double fianchetto.

White's most popular answer, chosen in close to half of games, is 3. g3, which contests the long diagonal with Bg2. The move 3. Nc3 supports an e4 advance that would blunt the b7-bishop, while 3. d4 is the direct route back to Queen's Indian structures after ...e6. The play is mostly maneuvering, with the fight for e4 and d5 at its core. The position is moderately common. The engine rates it as roughly balanced, and White scores somewhat better in practice.