Caissa Codex
Tree path 6 levels Indian Defense: West Indian Defense › King's Indian Defense › Normal Variation › King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation › Rare Defenses › King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation
  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
  7. King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation E91 you are here
E91

King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation

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Overview

King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation is a named branch in the Indian Defenses group of chess theory, classified under ECO E91.

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. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2.

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

3 named variations grow from this line, including King's Indian Defense: Kazakh Variation, King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Positional Defense, Closed Line.

In total, the branch covers 26 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
E91
Group
Indian Defenses (E)
Plies
11
Parent
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses
Direct variations
3
Total in subtree
26

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

5,131,627 games · White 50.1% / Draw 6.0% / Black 43.9%

MovesGamesW / D / B
e51,916,436
Nbd7866,563
Nc6699,611
c5499,755
Bg4396,427
Na6202,266
c6199,966
Re8106,910

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 02:34:40

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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, Rare Defenses:

Show all 26 sub-variations (full subtree)

https://chesscodex.org/openings/kings-indian-defense-orthodox-variation