Queen's Indian: Petrosian, Kasparov, 7...c5
Queen’s Indian Defence: Petrosian System, Kasparov Variation (…7 c5)
Definition
The line commonly catalogued as E12 in the ECO tables begins with the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. O-O c5. It is called the Petrosian System because Tigran Petrosian frequently employed 3. Nf3 followed by 4. g3 against the Queen’s Indian, while the specific counter of …7 c5 rose to prominence in Garry Kasparov’s world-championship preparation, hence the appellation Kasparov Variation. In short, the name recognises (a) the overall defence, (b) the set-up White chooses, and (c) Black’s seventh move.
Typical Move Order
Below is a concise move list you can load on a viewer that supports our PGN placeholder:
Strategic Themes
- Centrifugal pressure: Black’s …c5 immediately challenges White’s centre and discourages the natural e2-e4 break.
- Minor-piece battles: Both sides fight for the d4-square (White wants to keep a knight there, Black strives to exchange on f3).
- Queen-side play vs. King-side space: Black seeks counterplay on the light squares (…d5 or …cxd4), whereas White eyes an eventual e2-e4 and kingside initiative.
- Hanging-pawn structures: After …cxd4 cxd4 Black may aim for …d5, voluntarily accepting hanging pawns for active piece play.
Historical & Theoretical Significance
Garry Kasparov revived …7 c5 in his 1984-85 matches with Anatoly Karpov, blending classical Queen’s-Indian concepts with modern dynamism. The line became a mainstay in elite repertoires, prompting a vast body of analysis. Today engines still consider it one of Black’s most resilient answers to the Petrosian System, and many contemporary grandmasters—e.g., Levon Aronian and Anish Giri—keep it prepared.
Illustrative Games
- Petrosian – Spassky, Moscow 1966 (WCh Game 10): White demonstrated the flexibility of his structure, although …7 c5 had not yet crystallised into theory.
- Kasparov – Karpov, Moscow 1985 (WCh Game 16): The model encounter in which Kasparov, as Black, equalised comfortably with …7 c5 and later seized the initiative.
- Caruana – Giri, Wijk aan Zee 2020: Shows a modern engine-assisted treatment where Black sacs a pawn for long-term dark-square control.
Common Continuations after 7…c5
- 8. d5 (Petrosian’s clamp) exd5 9. Nh4 – White fixes the centre; Black seeks play with …Re8 and …Nc6.
- 8. dxc5 Bxc5 – The so-called “Immediate Capture” line; Black aims at f2 and d4.
- 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bg5 Nbd7 – Leads to hanging pawns for Black.
- 8. Qa4 – An ambitious try to exploit the pin on the c-pawn; theory nonetheless upholds Black’s position.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The very first appearance of …7 c5 in a top-level game was Petrosian – Gligorić, Bled 1961; decades later engines still rate Black’s concept highly.
- Kasparov reportedly adopted the variation after a training camp with Alexander Shakarov, who suggested it as “an Indian-style Benoni without the weakness of …f7-f5.”
- Modern neural-network engines sometimes recommend an early 8. Re1!?, highlighting how fresh ideas keep the line evolving even 60 years on.
Why Study This Line?
If you enjoy flexible structures, piece activity, and strategic pawn breaks rather than forced tactical melee, the Queen’s Indian: Petrosian, Kasparov, …7 c5 offers a rich battlefield. Understanding its pawn tensions (d4, c5, e6, d5) equips you with transferable skills applicable to other Indian-Defence setups such as the Nimzo-Indian and the Catalan.