Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6/2. c4/2...e6/3. Nf3/3...b6/4. Bf4

Queen's Indian Defence
a b c d e f g h 8 8 7 7 6 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 a b c d e f g h
Position in Forsyth-Edwards Notation (FEN) rnbqkb1r/p1pp1ppp/1p2pn2/8/2PP1B2/5N2/PP2PPPP/RN1QKB1R b
Moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6
ECO code: E12-E19
Parent: Indian Defence

Queen's Indian Defence - London System (Miles Variation)

In essence, in this variation, White seeks central control and space, with potential kingside attacking ideas, while Black adopts a hypermodern defense, allowing White's central occupation but preparing to challenge and undermine it later.

White's Strategy:

1. Central Control: With 1. d4 and 2. c4, White immediately asserts control over the center. The aim is to gain space and restrict Black's central pawn breaks.
2. Piece Development: The knight on f3 and the bishop on f4 represent optimal development. The Nf3 knight supports the d4 pawn and prepares for e2-e3, while the Bf4 bishop is developed outside the pawn chain, exerting pressure on the c7 pawn.
3. Flexibility: White's setup allows for various pawn structures and middle game plans, ranging from the traditional d4-c4 pawn duo, a potential d5 push, or even transitioning into other Queen's Pawn openings.
4. Kingside Potential: With the bishop developed to f4 early, White can consider ideas like e2-e3 followed by Bd3, potentially supporting a later kingside pawn storm with moves like g2-g4, especially if Black has already castled kingside.

Black's Strategy:

1. Hypermodern Approach: With ...Nf6, ...e6, and ...b6, Black takes a hypermodern approach, allowing White to occupy the center initially with the aim of counter-attacking and undermining White's center later.
2. Flexible Pawn Structure: Black's setup, especially with ...b6, hints at the idea of fianchettoing the queen's bishop with ...Bb7. This places pressure on the e4 square and supports potential central pawn breaks like ...d5 or ...c5.
3. Central Counterplay: Despite allowing White to occupy the center, Black aims for counterplay with moves like ...d5 or ...c5. The knight on f6 and the potential bishop on b7 work in tandem to challenge White's center.
4. King Safety: Black often aims for a short castle, ensuring the king's safety while also connecting the rooks. Depending on the course of the game, Black might even consider a queenside castle if the situation allows.
5. Active Piece Play: Black will look to develop the remaining minor pieces (e.g., ...Bb4+ or ...Bd6, and ...Nc6 or ...Nd7) to maximize their activity and coordinate potential counter-attacks.

Theory table

For explanation of theory tables, see theory table and for notation, see algebraic notation.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Bf4

		4	5	6
	Miles Variation	... Bb7	e3 Bb4+	Nfd2 O-O	=

References

• Kasparov, Garry, & Keene, Raymond 1989 Batsford chess openings 2. ISBN 0-8050-3409-9.

• Nunn's Chess Openings. 1999. John Nunn (Editor), Graham Burgess, John Emms, Joe Gallagher. ISBN 1-8574-4221-0.