ECO E61 · King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Be2

abcdefgh87654321
Black to move. The arrow shows Stockfish’s best move.
Best move

6… a5+0.29

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

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation (E61), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Be2, Stockfish 18 recommends 6… a5 for Black. The position is roughly equal (+0.29).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.296… a5 7. O-O Na6 8. Qc2 e5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Rd1 Qe7 11. e4
  2. +0.316… e5 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qc2 Qe7 9. b4 Re8 10. b5 e4 11. Nd2
  3. +0.316… Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. Qc2 Qe7 9. b4 Re8 10. b5 b6 11. a4

Variations

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Be2, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 6… a5 for Black, continuing 7. O-O Na6 8. Qc2 e5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Rd1 Qe7 11. e4. The position is roughly equal (+0.29). The next best moves are 6… e5 (+0.31) and 6… Nbd7 (+0.31).
Is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation a good opening?
Stockfish rates the position at +0.29: 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: Semi-Classical Variation?
E61. 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+).