ECO E89 · King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Closed Variation, Main Line

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. d5 cxd5

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

9. cxd5+0.75

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Closed Variation, Main Line (E89), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. d5 cxd5, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. cxd5 for White. White is slightly better (+0.75).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.759. cxd5 Na6 10. h4 h5 11. Qd2 Nc5 12. b4 Ncd7 13. Nc1 Ne8
  2. +0.329. Nxd5 Nxd5 10. cxd5 f5 11. Nc3 Bh6 12. Bxh6 Qh4+ 13. g3 Qxh6
  3. −0.099. exd5 e4 10. Qd2 Nbd7 11. Ng3 exf3 12. gxf3 Ne5 13. Be2 Qc7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Closed Variation, Main Line?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. d5 cxd5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. cxd5 for White, continuing Na6 10. h4 h5 11. Qd2 Nc5 12. b4 Ncd7 13. Nc1 Ne8. White is slightly better (+0.75). The next best moves are 9. Nxd5 (+0.32) and 9. exd5 (−0.09).
Is the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Closed Variation, Main Line a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.75: 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: Sämisch Variation, Closed Variation, Main Line?
E89. 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+).