ECO E96 · King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Positional Defense, Main Line

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 c6 9. Bf1 a5

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

10. Rb1+0.60

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Positional Defense, Main Line (E96), reached after 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 c6 9. Bf1 a5, Stockfish 18 recommends 10. Rb1 for White. White is slightly better (+0.60).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.6010. Rb1 Re8 11. d5 Nc5 12. h3 Bd7 13. Nd2 Qb6 14. b3 Rac8
  2. +0.5510. Be3 Ng4 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bc1 exd4 13. Nxd4 f5 14. h3 Nxf2
  3. +0.5010. h3 exd4 11. Nxd4 Nc5 12. Bf4 Re8 13. Qc2 Nh5 14. Be3 Nf6

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Positional Defense, Main Line?
After 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 c6 9. Bf1 a5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 10. Rb1 for White, continuing Re8 11. d5 Nc5 12. h3 Bd7 13. Nd2 Qb6 14. b3 Rac8. White is slightly better (+0.60). The next best moves are 10. Be3 (+0.55) and 10. h3 (+0.50).
Is the King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Positional Defense, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.60: 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, Positional Defense, Main Line?
E96. 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+).