ECO E87 · King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Bronstein Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Nh5 8. Qd2 Qh4+ 9. g3 Nxg3 10. Qf2 Nxf1 11. Qxh4 Nxe3 12. Ke2

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

12… Nxc4+0.88

White is clearly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Bronstein Defense (E87), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Nh5 8. Qd2 Qh4+ 9. g3 Nxg3 10. Qf2 Nxf1 11. Qxh4 Nxe3 12. Ke2, Stockfish 18 recommends 12… Nxc4 for Black. White is clearly better (+0.88).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.8812… Nxc4 13. b3 Na3 14. Qe7 Nc2 15. Rd1 Nd4+ 16. Kf2 Nd7 17. h4
  2. +1.0212… Nc2 13. Nb5 Nxa1 14. Nxc7 Na6 15. Nxa8 Nc2 16. Qe7 f5 17. Nc7
  3. +1.2612… Ng2 13. Qg5 Nf4+ 14. Kd1 f6 15. Qh4 Na6 16. Nge2 f5 17. Nxf4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Bronstein Defense?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Nh5 8. Qd2 Qh4+ 9. g3 Nxg3 10. Qf2 Nxf1 11. Qxh4 Nxe3 12. Ke2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 12… Nxc4 for Black, continuing 13. b3 Na3 14. Qe7 Nc2 15. Rd1 Nd4+ 16. Kf2 Nd7 17. h4. White is clearly better (+0.88). The next best moves are 12… Nc2 (+1.02) and 12… Ng2 (+1.26).
Is the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Bronstein Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.88: white is clearly 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: Sämisch Variation, Bronstein Defense?
E87. 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+).