ECO E12 · Queen's Indian Defense

Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Marco Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 Be7

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White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

6. d5+0.56

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Marco Defense (E12), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 Be7, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. d5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.56).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.566. d5 O-O 7. e4 d6 8. Bd3 exd5 9. cxd5 c6 10. O-O cxd5
  2. +0.286. Bf4 Nh5 7. Bd2 Nf6 8. Qc2 d5 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bf4 O-O
  3. +0.166. e3 d5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. b4 O-O 9. Bd3 Nbd7 10. O-O c5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Marco Defense?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 Be7, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. d5 for White, continuing O-O 7. e4 d6 8. Bd3 exd5 9. cxd5 c6 10. O-O cxd5. White is slightly better (+0.56). The next best moves are 6. Bf4 (+0.28) and 6. e3 (+0.16).
Is the Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Marco Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.56: white is slightly better. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Marco Defense?
E12. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; E is the volume for indian defenses.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).