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The position
What Queen's Indian Defense puts on the board
Material is level, with white to move.
White has central pawns on d4.
White can still castle either side; Black can still castle either side.
White’s plan
What White is trying to build
Claim central space without letting the long diagonals become weak.
Complete development before expanding on the queenside.
Black’s plan
How Black challenges it
Control e4 with pieces and pressure the centre from the flanks.
Use the b7 bishop and …c5 or …d5 to challenge White’s setup.
The idea
The tactical pattern to recognise
The b7 bishop can become powerful when the long diagonal opens.
Control of e4 determines whether White can build a full centre.
The mistake
What to check before committing
Blocking a fianchettoed bishop with an unnecessary pawn move.
Taking central space that cannot be maintained.
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