ECO E60 · King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense: Santasiere Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. b4

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

4… d6−0.20

The position is roughly equal. Stockfish 18, depth 18.

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Defense: Santasiere Variation (E60), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. b4, Stockfish 18 recommends 4… d6 for Black. The position is roughly equal (−0.20).

Top engine moves

  1. −0.204… d6 5. Bb2 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. a3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 d5 9. Nc3
  2. −0.194… O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Be2 c5 7. bxc5 dxc5 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. O-O
  3. −0.144… a5 5. b5 c5 6. e3 cxd4 7. exd4 d5 8. Nc3 Nbd7 9. Na4

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Defense: Santasiere Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. b4, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 4… d6 for Black, continuing 5. Bb2 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. a3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 d5 9. Nc3. The position is roughly equal (−0.20). The next best moves are 4… O-O (−0.19) and 4… a5 (−0.14).
Is the King's Indian Defense: Santasiere Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at −0.20: the position is roughly equal. 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: Santasiere Variation?
E60. 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+).