Chessda

King's Indian Defense

The King's Indian Defense (ECO E60–E99) is a chess opening that begins 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3.

King's Indian Defense — after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3

The main line

The King's Indian Defense is reached by 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 (ECO E61). It's one of 119 named lines under this opening in the book.

Named variations (22)

  • Fianchetto Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 (E60)
  • Orthodox Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 (E91)
  • Sämisch Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 (E80)
  • Averbakh Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 (E73)
  • Four Pawns Attack — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 (E76)
  • Normal Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 (E60)
  • Semi-Classical Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Be2 (E61)
  • Steiner Attack — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 (E81)
  • Petrosian Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 (E92)
  • Santasiere Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. b4 (E60)
  • Makogonov Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 (E71)
  • Accelerated Averbakh Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bg5 (E70)
  • Smyslov Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. Bg5 (E61)
  • Kramer Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nge2 (E70)
  • Karpov System — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Be3 (E71)
  • Semi-Averbakh System — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Be3 (E73)
  • Larsen Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be3 (E90)
  • Zinnowitz Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bg5 (E90)
  • Kazakh Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 Na6 (E91)
  • Pomar System — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 e5 7. Nge2 (E72)
  • Exchange Variation — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. dxe5 (E92)
  • Six Pawns Attack — 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. dxe6 fxe6 9. g4 Nc6 10. h4 (E77)

Analyze the King's Indian Defense

Play through this opening on the free analysis board, or review one of your own gamesto see how accurately you handled it — every move classified, with the engine's best line on each mistake.

← Back to all chess openings. New to opening study? See move classifications and the glossary.