The Traditional Variation is a variation of the Queen's Indian Defense, catalogued as ECO E17. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7, reaching the position shown below after 10 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4. Development is level at two minor pieces each. 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 Traditional Variation goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7. It is a variation of the Queen's Indian Defense and is catalogued as ECO E17.
The Traditional Variation is ECO E17. 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 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 at +0.52 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 two minor pieces each. It is White to move.