E94

King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Ukrainian Defense

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Statistics from Lichess

10,369 games: White 50.8% / Draw 6.6% / Black 42.7%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next move	Games	White / Draw / BlackW / D / B
	2,2952,295
	2,2892,289
	1,8101,810
	1,1001,100
	981981
	723723
	336336
	236236

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 29, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.60 White is slightly better

Best play: 8. Be3 Bg4 9. dxe5 Bxf3 10. exf6 Bxe2 11. Qxe2 Bxf6 12. c5 Bxc3

Stockfish 19, depth 30, after the line's last move. Scores are in pawns, from White's side.

Overview

King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Ukrainian Defense (ECO E94, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O a5 (7 moves).

In 10,369 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 50.8%, Black 42.7% and 6.6% were drawn. White's most played move here is 8. dxe5, in 22% of those games.

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Description

How to play against the King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Ukrainian Defense

8. Be3 scores best for White: 57.5%, with White winning 53.9% and Black 39.0% of 1,810 games. The most played, 8. dxe5, scores 56.2% in 2,295 games, and 8. d5 scores lowest: 50.5%. Stockfish's first choice is also 8. Be3.

Main answers: those played in at least 5% of these games. Score: White's wins plus half the draws, in rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500. How to play against other popular openings

Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Ukrainian Defense (E94)”. Lichess data as of 29 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/kings-indian-defense-orthodox-variation-ukrainian-defense