ECO E12 · Queen's Indian Defense

Queen's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation

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

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

4… d5+0.22

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the Queen's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation (E12), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… d5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.22).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.224… d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Nc3 Bb7 7. Bg5 Be7 8. e3 O-O 9. Bd3
  2. +0.274… Bb7 5. Bf4 d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bg3 Be7 8. Qc2 c5 9. dxc5
  3. +0.294… Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Nc3 c5 7. e4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bc5 9. Nb3

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the Queen's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… d5 for Black, continuing 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Nc3 Bb7 7. Bg5 Be7 8. e3 O-O 9. Bd3. The position is roughly equal (+0.22). The next best moves are 4… Bb7 (+0.27) and 4… Ba6 (+0.29).
Is the Queen's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.22: the position is roughly equal. 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: Petrosian Variation?
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+).