ECO E61 · King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Exchange Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. dxe5 dxe5

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

9. Qc2+0.20

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

Analyze this position

In the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Exchange Variation (E61), reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. dxe5 dxe5, Stockfish 18 recommends 9. Qc2 for White. The position is roughly equal (+0.20).

Top engine moves

  1. +0.209. Qc2 e4 10. Nd2 Nc5 11. b4 Nd3 12. Ba3 Bf5 13. b5 Re8
  2. +0.179. e4 Nc5 10. Qc2 Ne6 11. Rd1 Nd4 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. Bg5 h6
  3. +0.029. Rb1 Qe7 10. b4 a5 11. a3 Rd8 12. Qc2 e4 13. Nd4 Ne5

Frequently asked questions

What is the best move in the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Exchange Variation?
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. dxe5 dxe5, Stockfish 18 at depth 18 recommends 9. Qc2 for White, continuing e4 10. Nd2 Nc5 11. b4 Nd3 12. Ba3 Bf5 13. b5 Re8. The position is roughly equal (+0.20). The next best moves are 9. e4 (+0.17) and 9. Rb1 (+0.02).
Is the King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Exchange 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: Semi-Classical Variation, Exchange 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+).