ECO E61 · King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Benjamin Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 c6 7. O-O Qb6

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

8. h3+0.63

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Benjamin Defense (E61), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 c6 7. O-O Qb6, Stockfish 18 recommends 8. h3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.63).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.638. h3 Qa6 9. Qb3 Qb6 10. Qa3 Qa6 11. b3 Qxa3 12. Bxa3 a5
  2. +0.528. Re1 Qb4 9. Nd2 Qb6 10. e3 a5 11. b3 Na6 12. Bb2 e5
  3. +0.528. c5 dxc5 9. Na4 Qd8 10. Nxc5 b6 11. Na4 Bb7 12. Re1 Nbd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Benjamin Defense?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 c6 7. O-O Qb6, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 8. h3 for White, continuing Qa6 9. Qb3 Qb6 10. Qa3 Qa6 11. b3 Qxa3 12. Bxa3 a5. White is slightly better (+0.63). The next best moves are 8. Re1 (+0.52) and 8. c5 (+0.52).
Is the King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Benjamin Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.63: 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: Fianchetto Variation, Benjamin Defense?
E61. 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+).