Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Tiviakov Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Na6
The Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Tiviakov Defense is a chess opening classified as ECO E18, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Na6. It is a line of the Queen's Indian Defense. White is to move.
In 12.6 million rated Lichess games (blitz and slower), this position was reached 3 times by this move order. White won 67%, 33% were drawn and Black won 0%. The most popular continuation is 8. Bg5 (33% of games).
Engine evaluation: +0.49 (Stockfish, depth 38; best line 8. Ne5 d5 9. Bf4 c5 10. Rc1 cxd4)
- ECO
- E18
- Moves
- 14 plies
- FEN
r2q1rk1/pbppbppp/np2pn2/8/2PP4/2N2NP1/PP2PPBP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 7 8- PGN
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Na6
Analyse with Stockfish · Board image (SVG) · Open on Lichess
Results by rating
| Average rating | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 2000+ | 3 | |
| All | 3 |
Most played moves
| Move | Games | White / draw / Black |
|---|---|---|
| 8. Bg5 | 1 (33%) | |
| 8. a3 | 1 (33%) | |
| 8. Qc2 | 1 (33%) |
Master games
62 over-the-board games are classified under this line (White 39%, draw 27%, Black 34%). The strongest:
- GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2738) – GM Vladimir Fedoseev (2680) 0-1 · ChessKid Cup Div 2 W · 2023-05-26
- GM Ivan Cheparinov (2682) – GM Sergei Tiviakov (2611) 1-0 · 2nd Zicosur Open 2016 · 2016-01-08
- GM Loek Van Wely (2647) – GM Sergei Tiviakov (2639) 1/2-1/2 · ch-NED 2015 · 2015-07-10
- IM Ivan Rozum (2525) – GM Sergei Tiviakov (2665) 1/2-1/2 · 12th Izmir Open · 2013-09-06
- GM Bogdan Lalic (2479) – GM Sergei Tiviakov (2677) 1/2-1/2 · 1st Etna Open 2014 · 2014-12-07
Highest-rated Lichess games
- strizibuba (2602) – IM Burjugul_7 (2564) 1/2-1/2 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 0s
- DoraPony (2493) – GM Nadihil (2515) 1-0 · 2026-09-05 · 180 + 2s
- Bishops-Game (2464) – giona64 (2479) 1-0 · 2026-09-03 · 180 + 2s
Comes from
Queen's Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Traditional Variation 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3
More Queen's Indian Defense lines (all)
- Queen's Indian Defense E12
- Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov Variation (3… b6 4. Nc3) E12
- Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov Variation, Botvinnik Attack E12
- Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation E12
- Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Andersson Variation E12
- Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Classical Variation E12
- Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Hedgehog Variation E12
- Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Kasparov Attack E12
- Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Main Line E12
- Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Marco Defense E12
- Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Modern Variation E12
- Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Petrosian Attack E12
Opening names and moves from the Lichess openings dataset; statistics from the Lichess open database, 2026-09 (CC0), sample of 12.6 million games, bots excluded; evaluations from Lichess cloud analysis (all CC0). Master games from The Week in Chess #920–#1664 by Mark Crowther, used with permission.