Chess Openings Lab
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King's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation

The Petrosian Variation is 7.d5 in the Classical King's Indian, locking the center right after ...e5. White plans Bg5 to pin the f6 knight and slow Black's ...f5, while Black prepares that break with ...a5, ...h6 and knight moves.

Moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.d5
ECO
E92
Engine
+0.40 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
310 games in our lichess sample
White scores
50.2%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Play Bg5, as in the top engine line, to pin f6 and make ...Nh5 or ...Ne8 harder.
  • After ...h6, drop the bishop to e3 or d2 and keep it ready for queenside play.
  • Use Nd2, Rb1 and b4 to grow the queenside, as the third engine line shows.
  • Answer ...Ng4 calmly with Bd2 and h3, pushing the knight back before it supports ...f5.

Black

  • ...a5 first keeps White's b4 slow and gives a knight the c5 square.
  • Meet Bg5 with ...h6 and then ...Ng4 or ...Nh5 to break the pin.
  • Prepare ...f5 once the f6 knight has moved; the engine plays it after ...Ng4.
  • ...Na6 and ...Nc5 put a knight on a strong outpost hitting e4.

Plans and pawn structure

With d5 played early, the center is locked: d5 and e4 against d6 and e5. White wants the Bg5 pin, queenside space with b4 and c5, and a knight on c4. Black wants ...f5 to open the f-file, but needs to unpin first with ...h6. The c5 square is key for Black's knights, so ...a5 is common. White keeps Black's kingside play slow while breaking through on the queenside.

Where the engine's main line heads: Locked center: d5–e4 against d6–e5. A locked center: White's d5 and e4 against Black's d6 and e5. The game moves to the wings, where each side attacks where its pawns point.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.40: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.40 7...a5 8.Bg5 h6 9.Be3 Ng4 10.Bd2
  2. +0.50 7...Nbd7 8.Qc2 a5 9.h3 Nh5 10.Bg5
  3. +0.53 7...Na6 8.Nd2 Ne8 9.Rb1 Nc5 10.b4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

310 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.2%.

1600–199942.9%
2000 and up53.9%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • Petrosian Variation, Stein Defense7...a5 · rare
  • Petrosian Variation, Keres Defense7...Nbd7 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, play ...a5 and ...h6 early so the pin does not slow you down, then prepare ...f5. Do not allow White a free b4. As White, use Bg5 to pin, then switch to queenside play with Nd2 and b4.

Questions

What are the moves of the King's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation?

The King's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.d5. Its ECO code is E92.

Is the King's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.40 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 310 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.2%. A positional favorite for White players who like to restrain the opponent, and Black needs patience to arrange ...f5 under the pin.

What is the main idea of the King's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation?

White closes the center with d5 early and uses Bg5 to pin the f6 knight, slowing Black's ...f5 break. Black replies with ...a5 and ...h6, then prepares ...f5 while White expands on the queenside.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is a5, with Nbd7 and Na6 close behind. ...a5 slows b4 and secures c5 for a knight before Black deals with Bg5.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.