ECO E73 · King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Standard Development

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2

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

5… O-O+0.54

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Standard Development (E73), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2, Stockfish 18 recommends 5… O-O for Black. White is slightly better (+0.54).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.545… O-O 6. h4 c5 7. d5 e6 8. dxe6 fxe6 9. h5 gxh5 10. Nh3
  2. +0.645… Nbd7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O e5 8. Be3 b6 9. Qc2 Ng4 10. Bg5
  3. +0.675… c5 6. d5 O-O 7. Nf3 e6 8. O-O Re8 9. h3 exd5 10. exd5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Standard Development?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 5… O-O for Black, continuing 6. h4 c5 7. d5 e6 8. dxe6 fxe6 9. h5 gxh5 10. Nh3. White is slightly better (+0.54). The next best moves are 5… Nbd7 (+0.64) and 5… c5 (+0.67).
Is the King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Standard Development 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: Normal Variation, Standard Development?
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+).