Tree path 6 levels Indian Defense: West Indian Defense › King's Indian Defense › Normal Variation › King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation › Standard Development › King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation
- Chess Codex
- Indian Defense: West Indian Defense E60
- King's Indian Defense E61
- Normal Variation E70
- King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation E70
- Standard Development E73
- King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation E73 you are here
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation
Overview
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation is a named branch in the Indian Defenses group of chess theory, classified under ECO E73.
The Indian Defenses group covers Indian defences — hypermodern lines where Black challenges the centre with pieces rather than pawns.
It is reached after 11 plies of play, with the move sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Standard Development, part of the broader Indian Defense: West Indian Defense system.
6 distinct sub-variations branch from this opening; prominent examples include Benoni Defense, Flexible Defense, Geller Defense, and others.
In total, the branch covers 10 sub-variations across all depths.
Use the board to walk through every move, check how the position has scored on Lichess, or take it head-to-head against Stockfish.
- ECO code
- E73
- Group
- Indian Defenses (E)
- Plies
- 11
- Direct variations
- 6
- Total in subtree
- 10
This overview is generated automatically from the opening's metadata. Know this line well? Write a description — submissions are reviewed before publishing.
Statistics from Lichess
418,888 games · White 52.4% / Draw 5.7% / Black 41.9%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| h6 | 113,178 | |
| c5 | 95,872 | |
| Nbd7 | 73,742 | |
| Nc6 | 38,687 | |
| e5 | 27,338 | |
| c6 | 24,805 | |
| Na6 | 22,689 | |
| a6 | 5,192 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:34:17
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Variations (6)
Show all 10 sub-variations (full subtree)
- E74 Benoni Defense 12-ply
- E73 Flexible Defense 12-ply
- E73 Geller Defense 12-ply
- E73 Modern Defense 12-ply
- E73 Nc6 Defense 12-ply
- E73 Spanish Defense 12-ply
- E74 Advance Variation 13-ply
- E74 Exchange Variation 13-ply
- E73 Burgess Line 14-ply
- E75 King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Main Line 14-ply