ECO E12 · Queen's Indian Defense

Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Polovodin Gambit

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e4

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

7… Nxc3−0.63

Black is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Polovodin Gambit (E12), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e4, Stockfish 18 recommends 7… Nxc3 for Black. Black is slightly better (−0.63).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.637… Nxc3 8. bxc3 Bxe4 9. Ne5 Qh4 10. Qe2 Bd5 11. Qb5+ c6 12. Qe2
  2. +0.757… Nf6 8. Bb5+ Nbd7 9. Ne5 Qc8 10. Nxd7 Nxd7 11. O-O a6 12. Bc4
  3. +1.427… Ne7 8. Be3 Nd7 9. Qc2 Rc8 10. h4 c5 11. dxc5 bxc5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Polovodin Gambit?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. a3 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7… Nxc3 for Black, continuing 8. bxc3 Bxe4 9. Ne5 Qh4 10. Qe2 Bd5 11. Qb5+ c6 12. Qe2. Black is slightly better (−0.63). The next best moves are 7… Nf6 (+0.75) and 7… Ne7 (+1.42).
Is the Queen's Indian Defense: Kasparov-Petrosian Variation, Polovodin Gambit a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.63: black 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, Polovodin Gambit?
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+).