Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov Variation
The Kasparov Variation of the Queen's Indian is 4.Nc3, developing the knight before stopping ...Bb4. Black can pin with ...Bb4 for a Nimzo-Indian type game, or play ...Bb7 and ...d5 for a classical center.
- Moves
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3
- ECO
- E12, E13
- Engine
- +0.11 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 649 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 50.0%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Answer ...Bb4 with e3, Bd3 and short castling, then trade on d5 to gain the center.
- After ...Bb7 and ...d5, take with cxd5 and use Bb5+ to disturb Black's development.
- Against an early ...d5, the knight jump Ne5 and Bf4 give White strong central squares.
- Keep e4 as a long-term goal; the c3 knight already supports it.
Black
- Pin the knight with 4...Bb4, castle, and follow with ...d5 and ...c5.
- 4...Bb7 keeps control of e4 and can lead to a pawn on d5 after ...d5.
- Strike with ...c5 once castled to open the c-file and hit d4.
- Avoid an early ...d5 without ...Bb7 support, since Ne5 and Bf4 give White easy play.
Plans and pawn structure
If Black pins with ...Bb4, the game looks like a Nimzo-Indian: Black may trade on c3 to double White's pawns, and White builds with e3, Bd3 and castling. After ...Bb7 and ...d5, the center becomes symmetrical after cxd5 exd5, and White uses Bb5+ and Bd3 to keep pieces active. Black's main break is ...c5, while White looks for e4 in the long run.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.11: level. Its three top choices for Black:
- +0.11 4...Bb4 5.e3 O-O 6.Bd3 d5 7.O-O
- +0.13 4...Bb7 5.e3 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Bb5+
- +0.51 4...d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Ne5 Be7 7.Bf4
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
649 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.0%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- Kasparov Variation, Botvinnik Attack4...Bb7 · rare
- Pillsbury Attack4...d5 · rare
How to play against it
As Black, choose 4...Bb4 or 4...Bb7, both solid. Do not rush ...d5 before your pieces are out, because Ne5 and Bf4 grab good squares. If you pin, be ready to trade on c3 when doubled pawns would weaken White's queenside structure.
Other lines with this name
The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 Bb7.
Questions
What are the moves of the Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov Variation?
The Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov Variation starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3. Its ECO code is E12, E13.
Is the Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov Variation good for White?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.11 at depth 20, which is level. In 649 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.0%. A flexible line for White players who know Nimzo-Indian structures, while Black gets easy development with either reply.
What is the main idea of the Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov Variation?
White develops the knight before a3, inviting ...Bb4 and a Nimzo-Indian type fight. Black chooses between the pin and the classical ...Bb7 with ...d5.
What should Black play next?
The engine's first choice is Bb4, with Bb7 and d5 close behind. 4...Bb4 pins the c3 knight and fights for e4 before White plays a3.
Related lines
- Queen's Indian Defense
- Classical Variation
- Fianchetto Variation
- Kasparov-Petrosian Variation
- Spassky System
- Capablanca Variation
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.