ECO A05 · King's Indian Attack

King's Indian Attack: Smyslov Variation

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b4

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Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

3… d5−0.25

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Attack: Smyslov Variation (A05), reached after 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b4, Stockfish 18 recommends 3… d5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.25).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.253… d5 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O Nbd7 6. d4 a5 7. b5 Nb6 8. Nbd2
  2. −0.233… Bg7 4. Bb2 d5 5. Bg2 Qd6 6. a3 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8. d3
  3. −0.163… c6 4. a4 Bg7 5. d4 a5 6. b5 cxb5 7. axb5 d5 8. Na3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Attack: Smyslov Variation?
After 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 3… d5 for Black, continuing 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O Nbd7 6. d4 a5 7. b5 Nb6 8. Nbd2. The position is roughly equal (−0.25). The next best moves are 3… Bg7 (−0.23) and 3… c6 (−0.16).
Is the King's Indian Attack: Smyslov Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.25: the position is roughly equal. Evaluations this early in the game are small, so practical results depend far more on knowing the plans and typical structures than on the engine's number.
What is the ECO code of the King's Indian Attack: Smyslov Variation?
A05. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; A is the volume for flank openings.

Opening names from the Lichess opening book (CC0). Pieces by Colin M.L. Burnett (GPLv2+).