ECO E69 · King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Classical Main Line

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. e4 c6 9. h3

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

9… exd4+0.54

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Classical Main Line (E69), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. e4 c6 9. h3, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… exd4 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.54).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.549… exd4 10. Nxd4 Qb6 11. Na4 Qc7 12. b3 Re8 13. Re1 Nc5 14. Nc3
  2. +0.559… Re8 10. Re1 exd4 11. Nxd4 Qb6 12. Na4 Qa5 13. Bd2 Qa6 14. Qc2
  3. +0.649… a5 10. Re1 exd4 11. Nxd4 Re8 12. b3 Nc5 13. Bf4 Nh5 14. Be3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Classical Main Line?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. e4 c6 9. h3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… exd4 for Black, continuing 10. Nxd4 Qb6 11. Na4 Qc7 12. b3 Re8 13. Re1 Nc5 14. Nc3. White is slightly better (+0.54). The next best moves are 9… Re8 (+0.55) and 9… a5 (+0.64).
Is the King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Classical Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.54: 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, Classical Main Line?
E69. 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+).