What Queen's Indian Defense, with e3 puts on the board
Material is level, with white to move.
White has central pawns on d4; Black has central pawns on d5.
White can still castle either side; Black can still castle either side.
What White is trying to build
Claim central space without letting the long diagonals become weak.
Complete development before expanding on the queenside.
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 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.
What to check before committing
Blocking a fianchettoed bishop with an unnecessary pawn move.
Taking central space that cannot be maintained.
Choose the next book move
Preview a move to see the resulting position and the idea behind it. Select it to continue on the same board.
Reference links and alternate move orders
Move orders
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e3 b6 5.Nc3 Bb71.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e3 b6 5.Nc3 Bd6 6.Bd31.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 b6 4.Bd3 Bb7 5.O-O c5 6.c41.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e3 Be7 5.b3 O-O 6.Bd3 b61.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e3 Be7 5.Nc3 O-O 6.b3 b61.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 b6 4.Bd3 Bb7 5.O-O c5 6.c4 Be71.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 b6 4.Bd3 Bb7 5.O-O c5 6.c4 g61.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 b6 5.a3 Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2 Bb7 7.e31.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 b6 4.Bd3 Bb7 5.O-O Be7 6.c4 O-O 7.Nc31.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e3 b6 5.Nc3 Bd6 6.Bd3 O-O 7.O-O Bb71.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e3 Be7 5.b3 O-O 6.Bb2 b6 7.Nbd2 Bb7 8.Bd31.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.e3 b6 5.b3 Bb7 6.Bd3 Nbd7 7.O-O Bd6 8.Bb2 O-O 9.Nbd2