E87

King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Orthodox Variation, Bronstein Variation

Chess diagram: King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Orthodox Variation, Bronstein Variation after 12…Nxc4

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Statistics from Lichess

179 games: White 56.4% / Draw 7.3% / Black 36.3%

The moves played next. Pick one to see it on the board.
Next moveGamesWhite / Draw / BlackW / D / B
9393
5656
1010
88
44
44
22
11

Rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, from the Lichess opening explorer, updated Oct 25, 2026

Engine evaluation

+0.52 White is slightly better

Best play: 13. Nh3 Nxb2 14. Ng5 h6 15. Rab1 Nc4 16. Rbg1 Nb2 17. Qg3 hxg5

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

Overview

King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Orthodox Variation, Bronstein Variation (ECO E87, Indian Defenses) is a variation of the King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Bronstein Defense, reached after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Nh5 8. Qd2 Qh4+ 9. g3 Nxg3 10. Qf2 Nxf1 11. Qxh4 Nxe3 12. Ke2 Nxc4 (12 moves).

In 179 rated Lichess games between players rated 1600 to 2500, White won 56.4%, Black 36.3% and 7.3% were drawn. White's most played move here is 13. Rc1, in 52% of those games.

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Cite this page

Caissa Codex. “King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Orthodox Variation, Bronstein Variation (E87)”. Lichess data as of 25 Oct 2026. https://chesscodex.org/openings/kings-indian-defense-samisch-variation-orthodox-variation-bronstein-variation