ECO E81 · King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Normal Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O

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

6. Be3+0.44

White is slightly better. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Normal Defense (E81), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O, Stockfish 18 recommends 6. Be3 for White. White is slightly better (+0.44).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.446. Be3 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bxc5 Nc6 10. Nge2 b6
  2. +0.426. Bg5 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Qd2 exd5 9. cxd5 Nbd7 10. h4 Qb6
  3. +0.396. Nge2 c5 7. Be3 Nc6 8. dxc5 dxc5 9. Qxd8 Rxd8 10. Bxc5 Nd7

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Normal Defense?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6. Be3 for White, continuing c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bxc5 Nc6 10. Nge2 b6. White is slightly better (+0.44). The next best moves are 6. Bg5 (+0.42) and 6. Nge2 (+0.39).
Is the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Normal Defense a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.44: 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, Normal Defense?
E81. 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+).