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 › King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation › Positional Defense, Main Line
- 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
- King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation E95
- Positional Defense, Main Line E96 you are here
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Positional Defense, Main Line
Overview
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Positional Defense, Main Line is a named branch in the Indian Defenses group of chess theory, classified under ECO E96.
The Indian Defenses group covers Indian defences — hypermodern lines where Black challenges the centre with pieces rather than pawns.
It begins with 18 plies and takes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Re1 c6 9. Bf1 a5 to reach the canonical position.
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
- E96
- Group
- Indian Defenses (E)
- Plies
- 18
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
2,388 games · White 49.9% / Draw 6.2% / Black 43.9%
| Moves | Games | W / D / B |
|---|---|---|
| Rb1 | 626 | |
| h3 | 452 | |
| b3 | 296 | |
| d5 | 276 | |
| Bg5 | 181 | |
| dxe5 | 174 | |
| Be3 | 173 | |
| Qc2 | 69 |
Source: Lichess Opening Explorer · cached 2026-09-26 03:21:55
Write a description
Markdown supported (headings ###, bold, lists, links).
Submissions are reviewed before publishing.