The Spassky System3 is a variation of the Queen's Indian Defense, catalogued as ECO E14. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nc3 cxd4 7. exd4 Be7 8. O-O d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5, reaching the position shown below after 18 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move after nine moves. White has castled while Black’s king is still uncommitted; White’s d-file pawn is isolated; the c-file file is fully open.
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 Spassky System3 goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nc3 cxd4 7. exd4 Be7 8. O-O d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5. It is a variation of the Queen's Indian Defense and is catalogued as ECO E14.
The Spassky System3 is ECO E14. 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. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3 c5 6. Nc3 cxd4 7. exd4 Be7 8. O-O d5 9. cxd5 Nxd5 at +0.33 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. Development is level at three minor pieces each. It is White to move. White has castled while Black’s king is still uncommitted; White’s d-file pawn is isolated; the c-file file is fully open.