After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3, the move 3..d5 is the overwhelming choice of elite players.  Looking at the Tata Steel A group and the recently-completed Opera preliminaries, 3..d5 was played 25 times, 3..b6 was played twice, and 3..a6 was played once.  If you look back at high level tournaments from 2020, I think you will see roughly the same. 

I don't think this is simply fashion in the sense that 3..d5 and 3..b6 are equally as good and they are picking 3..d5 just because.  3..d5 appears to be regarded as more solid and more flexible than 3..b6.  Indeed, I wonder if "fashion" is even still a thing given how carefully and concretely today's top players prepare their openings.

JFugre wrote on 02/01/21 at 13:00:05:


I am surprised by this comment, and respectfully skeptical.

May I ask - what makes you assert this? Have you discussed this with many of the, say, top 20, top 100, or top 500?

My impression is quite the opposite - that stronger GM players are very tuned in to the strengths and weaknesses of differing softwares, and are very up-to-date.

Noting Shanklnd's suggestion that QID is not trusted so much nowadays, we can helpfully restrict this to players likely to be somewhat respected in that orbit - say 2650 plus. Of course there are so many random GMs of 2400-2500 level who are clueless with tech, and those are of little concern.

I will critic my own posts that mention statistics. A one-year look is often too short a duration. Sometimes a year differs greatly from the prior year.

I've done some more searches in the QID, specifically in lines where white fianchetos and answers ...Ba6 with b3. A few systems have been recommended for black.

A general result is that black does very well (around 50%) in an unrestricted search. Black may run into trouble when the games are restricted to players rated over 2500. It might not be the best opening to play against Sam Shankland.

I'm no Sam Shankland, but that assessment can't be correct. I mean, white can get "pressure" in the QID, but not more than in the Catalan or the QGD. Isn't it just fashion and move orders?

• Against the Catalan black needs something else.
• Against the English the Hedgehog has lost popularity.
• Nimzo-Indian players have way too many choices against 3.Nf3: Benoni, Ragozin, Semi-Tarrasch, etc.

At club level, it is strictly a matter of preference.

At the top level, against 3.Nf3, the elites prefer some form of the QGD (including defenses such as the Ragozin and Semi-Slav).

The QID is a bit out of fashion at the top.  Per Sam Shankland:

“Not so long ago, the Queen's Indian Defence was a mainstay in elite-level chess, and it would seem unfathomable to think that just 15 years later, it would be mostly gone. In general, I think it is the defence against 1. d4 that suffered the greatest hit to its reputation at the hands of computers in recent times. I wouldn't be so bold as to say I have conclusively proved an advantage, but I think I can put Black under a lot of pressure.“

FreeRepublic wrote on 01/29/21 at 17:22:20:

It's an important question, but not necessarily a good question. There's a difference. If the OP had been willing to return here and follow up on the one response they did get, perhaps it could have turned into a useful discussion.

I think the QID requires black to be able to play many different structures, compared to the QGD which might need knowledge of only three or four (Carlsbad, IQP, perhaps QGA, and perhaps hanging pawns). And as MNb ironically points out there are still some move order issues to be resolved.

I think this is a very good question. It was asked almost a year ago, and only received one response. I think the reason for the question is not readily apparent. It relates to a variety of issues/questions.

What if you play the Nimzo-Indian defense. What do you pair it with, if white plays 3Nf3? There is the QID, QGD, Bogo-Indian, modern Benoni. Blumenfeld. Anything else?

What if you tentatively decide to play the Nimzo with the QGD? Well why bother with the Nimzo in the first place? Why not simply play the QGD all the time? As an added bonus, the QGD pretty much provides a ready answer against the English opening.

Personally I like the forthright character of the queen's gambit declined. However, it involves learning the exchange variation, Bg5 variation, Bf4 variation, and the Catalan. If you play the Nimzo and the QGD, the exchange variation is largely neutralized. Also, Ne2 vs the Tartakover is gone. It may be worth it.

What if you play the Nimzo and QID instead? Well, no Catalan to worry about. The Nimzo and QID seem to be very good openings in both theory and practice. Still, there are many variations in the QID to learn. Also, you need an answer to the English opening. I think 1c4 e5 is good for black, but it certainly benefits from preparation and experience.

In theory, the Nimzo, QID, and 1c4 e5 provide a rock solid, with chances, repertoire and is the way to go. In practice, there are many variations to learn. Do they suit your style?

The Nimzo, QGD, and 1c4 e5, is a lot of work also. While this might suit my style better, statistics on the QGD are far from stellar from black's perspective.

Simply playing the QGD is an option. It's just one opening, despite several variations. Black plays directly and logically. Unfortunately, black provides no impediment for white, who can likewise play directly and logically. I think theory and practice are more difficult here.