Petrosian Variation — Chess Strategy
Petrosian Variation
Definition
“Petrosian Variation” is the collective name given to several closely related opening set-ups
championed by the 9th World Champion, Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian (1929-1984).
In each case, the idea is characteristically Petrosian: restrict the opponent’s active
possibilities first, then out-maneuver them positionally.
Where the Name Appears
- King’s Indian Defence (KID) – Petrosian System
1. d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.d5 ! The immediate advance 7.d5 blocks Black’s king-side pawn storm before it starts. - Queen’s Indian Defence – Petrosian Variation
1. d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 ! White prevents …Bb4 and prepares an eventual b2–b4 queenside expansion. - French Defence – Petrosian (Tarrasch) Variation
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 ! Again, Petrosian blocks the centre, aiming for a slow squeeze.
Strategic Hallmarks
- Prophylaxis first. Petrosian’s central advance (d4–d5 or e4–e5) denies the opponent their favourite pawn breaks – …f7-f5 in the KID, …c7-c5 in the Queen’s Indian, …c7-c5 in the French.
- Space without weakness. By closing the centre, White claims territory but keeps the pawn chain compact and well-defended.
- Long-term manoeuvring. Knights are often re-routed (Nb1-d2-c4 or Nf3-d2-c4) while bishops sit patiently until the right moment.
- Queenside play. Since the kingside is sealed, White usually prepares b2-b4, c4-c5, or a2-a3-b4 to exploit space on the left flank.
- Delayed attack. Only after every Black counter-idea has been stifled does White open a second front, often breaking through suddenly.
Historical Significance
During the 1950s-70s the King’s Indian Defence was considered a threatening weapon for Black. Petrosian’s 7.d5 ! (KID) and 4.a3 ! (Queen’s Indian) showed that positional restraint could outshine tactical bravado. His methodology influenced entire generations: Karpov, Kramnik, and modern strategists such as Ding Liren have all used these systems when they “just needed a game they couldn’t lose.”
Classic Example – King’s Indian, Petrosian System
Game: Petrosian – Spassky, 27th USSR Championship, Moscow 1960
Result: 1-0
Key moment: Petrosian’s prophylactic 7.d5 froze Black’s pawn breaks; 20 moves later the
unsuspecting Spassky found his pieces tied up on the back rank.
Note how every Black attempt at …f7-f5 or …c7-c6 was met with calm restraint until White’s queenside avalanche (a2-a3, b2-b4, c4-c5) decided the game.
Modern Illustration – Queen’s Indian, Petrosian Variation
Game: Aronian – Karjakin, Candidates 2016
Result: 1-0
Aronian used 4.a3 to duck theoretical landmines, then won an endgame after 74 moves –
pure Petrosian.
How Players Use the Variation Today
- Against uncompromising opponents. A Petrosian set-up is a sound way to sidestep razor-sharp main lines without conceding theoretical inferiority.
- For a “two-result” game. Many super-GMs select it when a draw is acceptable but a win is still plausible.
- As an anti-computer choice. Engines love open positions; closed, manoeuvring structures level the playing field for human creativity.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Petrosian was so renowned for prophylaxis that his colleagues joked he could “sense a threat three moves before it was conceived.”
- In the 1963-64 Candidates cycle he scored +4 =10 -0 with the Petrosian KID, leading directly to his successful World Championship match against Botvinnik.
- When asked why he loved 7.d5, Petrosian quipped, “If Black never plays …f5, what is his king’s bishop actually doing?”
- Modern computers give White a slight edge in the KID Petrosian System – a rare case where engines agree with a purely positional human judgment.
Summary
The Petrosian Variation (in any of its guises) is less an opening move-order than a philosophy: anticipate your opponent’s plans, smother them, then strike. Its enduring popularity proves that Tigran Petrosian’s legacy is not only world titles but also a timeless blueprint for positional mastery.