The Fianchetto Variation, Check Variation is a variation of the Queen's Indian Defense, catalogued as ECO E15. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+, reaching the position shown below after 10 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4. Black is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to White's one. It is White to move after five moves.
On the Queen's Indian Defense generally: A flexible defense to 1.d4 where Black fianchettoes the queen's bishop to control e4.
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See all 59 Queen's Indian Defense variations →
The Fianchetto Variation, Check Variation goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+. It is a variation of the Queen's Indian Defense and is catalogued as ECO E15.
The Fianchetto Variation, Check Variation is ECO E15. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the Queen's Indian Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ at +0.30 at depth 18, which is a slight pull for White, within normal opening margins. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4. Black is ahead in development, with three minor pieces out to White's one. It is White to move.