Theoria
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Queen's Indian Defense

Yates Variation

E16positionaloffbeat

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4e6
  3. 3.Nf3Bb4+
  4. 4.Bd2a5
  5. 5.g3b6
  6. 6.Bg2Bb7
343 games46%43%

Queen's Indian line reached via the Bogo-Indian check 3...Bb4+, in which Black props up the bishop with ...a5 before fianchettoing with ...b6 and ...Bb7.

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About the Yates Variation

The Yates Variation reaches a Queen's Indian structure by way of the Bogo-Indian check 3...Bb4+. After 4. Bd2, Black plays 4...a5 to support the bishop, so that an exchange on b4 can be answered by ...axb4. Black then fianchettoes with ...b6 and ...Bb7 against White's g3 and Bg2. White almost always continues 7. O-O. The engine gives White a slight edge, practical results are close to even, and the line is seldom seen.

Popular continuations