ECO E99 · King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System, Traditional Line

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 Nd7 10. f3 f5

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

11. Be3+0.64

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System, Traditional Line (E99), 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 Nd7 10. f3 f5, Stockfish 18 recommends 11. Be3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.64).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.6411. Be3 b6 12. b4 Kh8 13. Nd3 c5 14. Qd2 f4 15. Bf2 g5
  2. +0.5711. Nd3 f4 12. b4 a5 13. bxa5 Rxa5 14. a4 g5 15. Nb5 Kh8
  3. +0.4411. a3 f4 12. b4 a5 13. Bd2 Nf6 14. bxa5 Rxa5 15. a4 b6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System, Traditional Line?
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 Nd7 10. f3 f5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 11. Be3 for White, continuing b6 12. b4 Kh8 13. Nd3 c5 14. Qd2 f4 15. Bf2 g5. White is slightly better (+0.64). The next best moves are 11. Nd3 (+0.57) and 11. a3 (+0.44).
Is the King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System, Traditional Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.64: 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, Traditional Line?
E99. 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+).