ECO E91 · King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2

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

6… e5+0.48

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation (E91), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… e5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.48).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.486… e5 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4 Nc6 9. Be3 Re8 10. f3 Nxd4 11. Bxd4
  2. +0.576… Bg4 7. Be3 Nfd7 8. h4 e6 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. d5 Na5 11. Bg5
  3. +0.626… a5 7. O-O e5 8. Be3 Na6 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Qc2 Qe8 11. a3

Other move orders

  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O
  • 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Re1

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… e5 for Black, continuing 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4 Nc6 9. Be3 Re8 10. f3 Nxd4 11. Bxd4. White is slightly better (+0.48). The next best moves are 6… Bg4 (+0.57) and 6… a5 (+0.62).
Is the King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.48: 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: Orthodox Variation?
E91. 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+).