ECO E98 · King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1

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

9… a5+0.36

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System (E98), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1, Stockfish 18 recommends 9… a5 for Black. White is slightly better (+0.36).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.369… a5 10. f4 exf4 11. Bxf4 h6 12. h4 Nh7 13. Qd2 g5 14. hxg5
  2. +0.459… Nd7 10. b4 a5 11. bxa5 Rxa5 12. Nd3 f5 13. f3 Ra8 14. Bd2
  3. +0.549… Ne8 10. b4 c6 11. Nf3 cxd5 12. cxd5 f5 13. Nd2 Nf6 14. a4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9… a5 for Black, continuing 10. f4 exf4 11. Bxf4 h6 12. h4 Nh7 13. Qd2 g5 14. hxg5. White is slightly better (+0.36). The next best moves are 9… Nd7 (+0.45) and 9… Ne8 (+0.54).
Is the King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.36: 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, Classical System?
E98. 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+).