Caissa Codex
Tree path 5 levels Indian Defense: West Indian Defense › King's Indian Defense › Normal Variation › King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation › Rare Defenses
  1. Caissa Codex
  2. Indian Defense: West Indian Defense E60
  3. King's Indian Defense E61
  4. Normal Variation E70
  5. King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation E70
  6. Rare Defenses E90 you are here
E90

King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses

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Overview

King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses is a named branch in the Indian Defenses group of chess theory, classified under ECO E90.

The Indian Defenses group covers Indian defences — hypermodern lines where Black challenges the centre with pieces rather than pawns.

The line arises from 9 plies — specifically the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3.

In the opening tree, this line branches off from King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, part of the broader Indian Defense: West Indian Defense system.

3 named variations grow from this line, including King's Indian Defense: Larsen Variation, King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, King's Indian Defense: Zinnowitz Variation.

Together the deeper variations number 29 across the full subtree.

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
E90
Group
Indian Defenses (E)
Plies
9
Parent
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation
Direct variations
3
Total in subtree
29

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

7,284,538 games · White 48.8% / Draw 5.5% / Black 45.8%

MovesGamesW / D / B
O-O5,905,074
Bg4410,738
Nbd7392,469
Nc6160,284
c6139,342
c584,609
b649,143
e540,168

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:11:05

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Variations (3)

Related variations at the same level

Sister lines that share the same parent King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation:

Show all 29 sub-variations (full subtree)

https://chesscodex.org/openings/kings-indian-defense-normal-variation-rare-defenses