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Ponderchess / Queen's Indian Defense

Kasparov-Petrosian Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3. Petrosian's 4.a3 stops ...Bb4, so White can develop the knight to c3 and fight for e4 without worrying about a pin.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3

Step through it in the Queen's Indian Defense explorer →

Key ideas

  • 5...d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 is the Modern Variation and the main line. White chooses between 7.Qc2 (the Kasparov Attack), which aims for e4 and a big centre, and the calmer 7.e3 (the Petrosian Attack).
  • A typical sequence is 7.Qc2 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Be7 9.e4 O-O 10.Bd3 c5. White has the broad centre and attacking chances on the kingside; Black has pressure on d4 and e4 and play on the c-file.
  • 6...exd5, the Classical Variation, gives a Queen's Gambit Declined structure in which the b7 bishop is blocked by its own pawn on d5, but Black's position is very solid.
  • Other options are 5...Ne4 (the Andersson Variation), which trades the c3 knight to ease the defence, and 4...Ba6 instead of 4...Bb7, hitting c4 at once.

Plans for White

Aim for e4. With Qc2 and, after ...Nxc3, bxc3 and e4, White gets a strong centre and good attacking chances on the kingside. The pawn on c3 supports d4, and the half-open b-file can be useful for a rook.

Plans for Black

Contest e4 with pieces: ...d5, ...Nxd5 and the bishop on b7. Strike at the centre with ...c5, ...Nd7 and ...Rc8, and be ready to meet the d5 push. Black's position is sound if ...c5 comes in time.

For the wider picture, see the Queen's Indian Defense guide.

12 named lines of the Kasparov-Petrosian Variation