Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation
The Kasparov-Petrosian Variation is 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3, where White spends a move to stop ...Bb4 before placing the knight. White wants e4 and a big center, while Black fights for e4 with ...d5 or ...Ne4.
- Moves
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3
- ECO
- E12
- Engine
- +0.14 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 334 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 52.8%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Use the a3 pawn so the c3 knight cannot be pinned, then push e4 when it is safe.
- Against ...d5, play Qc2 and Bf4 to control e5 and prepare castling with e3.
- After ...Ne4 trade on e4 and follow with Nd2 and e4 to claim the center with tempo.
- Against ...d6 play g3 and use d5 to block the b7 bishop's diagonal.
Black
- 5...d5 stops e4 directly and leads to a Queen's Gambit type structure with ...Be7 and ...c5.
- 5...Ne4 trades a pair of knights to ease the cramp and keeps the bishop aimed at e4.
- Prepare ...c5 to hit d4 once development is complete, especially after White plays Qc2.
- Do not let White play e4 for free; that pawn would cut the b7 bishop off.
Plans and pawn structure
The e4 square decides the game plan. If White gets e4 in with support, Black's b7 bishop is blunted and White has a big space edge. Black stops this with ...d5 or with ...Ne4 and a knight trade. In the ...d5 lines White uses Qc2 and Bf4 to fight for e5, while Black prepares ...c5 to open the c-file. The a3 pawn later helps White with b4 queenside expansion.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.14: level. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.14 5...d5 6.Qc2 Be7 7.Bf4 O-O 8.e3
- +0.26 5...Ne4 6.Nxe4 Bxe4 7.Nd2 Bb7 8.e4
- +0.52 5...d6 6.g3 Ne4 7.Nxe4 Bxe4 8.d5
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
334 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.8%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Andersson Variation5...Ne4 · rare
- Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Hedgehog Variation5...g6 · rare
- Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Romanishin Attack5...d5 · rare
- Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Marco Defense5...Be7 · rare
How to play against it
As Black, fight for e4 right away with 5...d5 or 5...Ne4. Avoid slow moves like ...d6 that let White play d5 and gain space. If White trades on e4 and plays Nd2, keep the bishop on the long diagonal and answer e4 with ...g6 and ...Bg7.
Questions
What are the moves of the Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation?
The Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3. Its ECO code is E12.
Is the Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.14 at depth 20, which is level. In 334 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.8%. An ambitious choice for White players who want central space, while Black must act fast to stop e4.
What is the main idea of the Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation?
White uses a3 to stop ...Bb4 and then aims for e4 with Nc3. Black stops that with ...d5 or ...Ne4 and later breaks with ...c5.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is d5, with Ne4 and d6 close behind. 5...d5 blocks e4 directly and gives Black a solid central pawn.
Related lines
- Queen's Indian Defense
- Kasparov Variation
- Classical Variation
- Fianchetto Variation
- Spassky System
- Capablanca Variation
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.