Tree path 9 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 › King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation › King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation › Donner Defense

E94

King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Donner Defense

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Overview

King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Donner Defense is a named branch in the Indian Defenses group of chess theory, classified under ECO E94.

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

The line arises from 14 plies — specifically the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O c6.

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

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: E94
Group: Indian Defenses (E)
Plies: 14
Parent: King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation

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

17,514 games · White 49.0% / Draw 6.8% / Black 44.2%

Moves	Games	W / D / B
d5	5,668
dxe5	3,600
Be3	2,658
h3	1,765
Re1	1,650
Bg5	1,316
Qc2	571
Rb1	71

Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:03:07

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Overview

Statistics from Lichess

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