ECO E73 · King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Flexible Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 h6

abcdefgh87654321
White to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

7. Be3+0.49

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Flexible Defense (E73), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 h6, Stockfish 18 recommends 7. Be3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.49).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.497. Be3 c5 8. d5 e6 9. Qd2 b5 10. cxb5 exd5 11. exd5 a6
  2. +0.377. Bc1 e5 8. d5 Na6 9. Be3 c6 10. f3 Nh5 11. Qd2 f5
  3. +0.267. Bf4 Nc6 8. Nf3 e5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Nxe5 Nxe4 11. Nxc6 Qxd1+

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Flexible Defense?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 h6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 7. Be3 for White, continuing c5 8. d5 e6 9. Qd2 b5 10. cxb5 exd5 11. exd5 a6. White is slightly better (+0.49). The next best moves are 7. Bc1 (+0.37) and 7. Bf4 (+0.26).
Is the King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Flexible Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.49: white is slightly better. 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 Defense: Averbakh Variation, Flexible Defense?
E73. ECO codes classify chess openings from A00 to E99; E is the volume for indian defenses.

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