Play the Petrosian Variation – Expert Repertoire against King’s Indian Defence – Part 2

We are happy to present the second and final database by GM Michael Roiz about the Petrosian Variation in the King’s Indian Defence. Let’s take a look at the starting position of the Petrosian System.

Black’s most popular move 7…a5 was examined in Part 1 of the Petrosian project. In this course, GM Roiz examines all the remaining options. The course consists of 8 theoretical chapters, 10 interactive test positions, a Memory Booster, and a Video Version (1h and 25min).

This database further completes the repertoire for Roiz based on 1.Nf3. For further details, you can take a look at the package 1.Nf3 According to Roiz.

In Chapter 1, the author examines two rare moves for Black – 7…c5 and 7…Ne8. The analysis of Roiz shows that Black cannot equalise in these lines.

Chapter 2 features the move 7…Nh5

This is definitely the most common and challenging of Black’s minor possibilities. Similar to many King’s Indian Defence lines, Black’s knight is heading on f4 to put pressure on White’s kingside. On the downside, often Black finds himself stuck with the h5-knight in case it doesn’t reach f4.

In this case, White should answer with 8.g3, restricting the knight and getting ready to take on f5 in case of …f7-f5. Detailed look shows that Black’s counterplay is not sufficient in this line.

Chapter 3 is dedicated to 7…Nbd7

This is the second most populat move after 7…a5. As after 7…Na6, Black moves his knight towards c5, when sometimes he may save a tempo for …a7-a5. On the downside, his light-squared bishop remains blocked for a while. The main line goes 8.Qc2 Nc5 9.Nd2 a5 10.Nb3

This was played by the great Lajos Portisch back in 1967, and Roiz still believes this is the best! White reaches an optimal setup by getting rid of the nasty c5-knight.

Chapter 4 examines the position arising after 7…Nbd7 8.Qc2 a5

The most common and natural continuation. Allowing b2-b4 isn’t to everyone’s taste, even though 8…Nc5 9.b4 is acceptable for Black. At this point, Roiz suggests 9.h3. White opts for this universal move again. As usual, it secures e3 for the bishop and makes g2-g4 possible. White can rely on a slight edge in this line.

The remaining chapters are dedicated to the move 7…Na6.

This continuation is Black’s 3rd choice in practice. As after 6…Nbd7, Black saves a tempo for a7-a5 to quickly attack e4 with c5-knight. This move is somewhat more flexible than 6…Nbd7 because the light-squared bishop remains unblocked. On the flipside, the a6-knight is at risk of being misplaced in case it doesn’t reach c5. At this point, Roiz suggests 8.Nd2.