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King's Indian Defense

Petrosian Variation, Stein Defense

E92positional

  1. 1.d4Nf6
  2. 2.c4g6
  3. 3.Nc3Bg7
  4. 4.e4d6
  5. 5.Nf3O-O
  6. 6.Be2e5
  7. 7.d5a5
1,656 games49%46%

The Stein Defense, 7...a5, is Black's most common reply to the Petrosian King's Indian, slowing White's queenside expansion before kingside play.

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About the Stein Defense

The Stein Defense, 7...a5, is the most common answer to the Petrosian Variation. The pawn move restrains White's queenside expansion with b2–b4 and prepares a knight post on c5 via a6. This delays the c4–c5 break before Black turns to ...f5. White most often pins with 8. Bg5. The main alternatives are 8. O-O, which has scored well for Black in online games, and 8. Be3. Engines give White a slight edge.

Popular continuations