Tree path 10 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 › Aronin-Taimanov Defense › King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Modern System
- Chess Codex
- Indian Defense: West Indian Defense E60
- King's Indian Defense E61
- Normal Variation E70
- King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation E70
- Rare Defenses E90
- King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation E91
- King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation E92
- King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation E94
- Aronin-Taimanov Defense E97
- King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Modern System E97 you are here
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Modern System
Overview
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Modern System is a named branch in the Indian Defenses group of chess theory, classified under ECO E97.
The Indian Defenses group covers Indian defences — hypermodern lines where Black challenges the centre with pieces rather than pawns.
The line arises from 17 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 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Nd2.
In the opening tree, this line branches off from King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Aronin-Taimanov Defense, 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
- E97
- Group
- Indian Defenses (E)
- Plies
- 17
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
44,115 games · White 52.2% / Draw 5.3% / Black 42.4%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Nd7 | 17,729 | |
| Ne8 | 17,108 | |
| a5 | 4,253 | |
| c5 | 1,527 | |
| c6 | 1,137 | |
| h6 | 798 | |
| a6 | 310 | |
| Nh5 | 265 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:18:32
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