ECO E90 · King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense: Larsen Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be3

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

6… e5+0.33

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Defense: Larsen Variation (E90), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be3, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… e5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.33).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.336… e5 7. Be2 exd4 8. Nxd4 Re8 9. Qd3 c6 10. O-O Na6 11. f3
  2. +0.386… Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bd2 e5 9. d5 f5 10. Bd3 Na6 11. Bc2
  3. +0.546… c5 7. h3 Qb6 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. d5 Nd4 10. O-O-O Nxf3 11. gxf3

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Defense: Larsen Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be3, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… e5 for Black, continuing 7. Be2 exd4 8. Nxd4 Re8 9. Qd3 c6 10. O-O Na6 11. f3. White is slightly better (+0.33). The next best moves are 6… Ng4 (+0.38) and 6… c5 (+0.54).
Is the King's Indian Defense: Larsen Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.33: 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: Larsen Variation?
E90. 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+).