Queens Indian Reversed – Definition & Concepts
Queens Indian Reversed
Definition
The term “Queens Indian reversed” describes any opening position in which the moves and pawn structure of the classical Queen’s Indian Defense (QID) appear with colors inverted— White adopts Black’s typical piece layout, and Black mirrors White’s; consequently, White enjoys the extra tempo that naturally accrues when an opening is “reversed.” In practical play the set-up most often arises from the English Opening (1. c4) or Reti move-orders and features a queenside fianchetto by White with …b6/…Bb7 played by Black much later or not at all.
Typical Move Orders
Two of the most common sequences are:
- 1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. Nf3 Be7 6. O-O O-O
White’s light-squared bishop on g2 and pawn on c4 mirror Black’s typical …b6/…Bb7 structure in the orthodox Queen’s Indian. - 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O Be7 6. d4
A pure “reversed” Queen’s Indian reached via the Reti.
Strategic Themes
- Extra Tempo: Because White has the additional move, the queenside fianchetto becomes more aggressive, often allowing quicker central expansion with d2-d4 or e2-e4.
- Light-Square Pressure: The bishop on g2 eyes the d5-square and Black’s queenside. White frequently operates on the long diagonal (a8–h1) supported by c4 and sometimes c5.
- Flexible Center: White can choose between
- Closed setups (d2-d3, e2-e4) aiming for kingside attacks, or
- Open Catalan-style play (d2-d4, Qc2, Rd1) pressuring the c- and d-files.
- Piece Activity over Pawn Structure: Just as in the traditional QID, pieces are developed rapidly; however, with colors reversed, White’s superior development can become a direct attacking resource.
How It Is Used in Practice
The Queens Indian reversed is rarely catalogued as an independent ECO code; instead it is covered under A13–A19 (English Opening variations). Players who enjoy the Queen’s Indian with Black often choose the reversed version with White to obtain familiar structures while preserving the initiative.
Against opponents who avoid 1. d4, the line serves as a positional, low-risk system that still carries winning chances because of the extra tempo.
Model Games
- Karpov – Petrosian, Moscow 1981
Karpov used the reversed structure to squeeze on the light squares, eventually winning a pawn on the queenside. - Kasparov – Hjartarson, Tilburg 1988
A celebrated illustration of how the extra tempo can lead to a direct kingside assault. - Adams – Gelfand, Dortmund 1995
Adams converted the space advantage in a heavy-piece endgame.
Transpositional Tricks
- With an early d2-d4, the game can transpose to a Catalan Reversed or straight Catalan.
- If White advances c4-c5, positions reminiscent of the Benoni or Hedgehog can arise.
- An early b2-b4 can flip the opening into reversed Benko territory, a line popularized by GM Boris Spassky.
Historical Notes & Anecdotes
• The “extra move” concept fascinated Aron Nimzowitsch,
who experimented with reversed openings as early as the 1920s.
• In the 1980s the English “school” (Miles, Short, Speelman) adopted the system to sidestep pet QID traps of Soviet opponents.
• Modern engines rate the structure as absolutely sound: the first-line evaluations
are frequently +0.3 – +0.5, reflecting the natural initiative White inherits.
Practical Tips for Players
- Do not rush d2-d4 unless you are comfortable defending the isolated d-pawn after …d5.
- The knight on g1 often heads to h3 or e2, not f3, to support c4-c5 thrusts.
- A timely e2-e4 can punish Black setups that are too passive (…Bb7 without …d5).
- Study thematic endings where White’s bishop on g2 dominates the long diagonal.
Further Study Resources (internal)
- Queens Indian Defense – compare the original structure.
- English Opening – principal opening family containing the reversed QID.
- Catalan – related light-square strategy.