1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3
The King's Indian Defense starts with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 and is catalogued under ECO E61. It belongs to the Indian defenses section of the book. The catalog indexes 119 lines inside it, grouped into 109 named variations. The position after those moves has 2 playable continuations to walk from here.
King's Indian Defense
19 min · 10 steps · 7 questions
Root edges show how often each move is played around your Elo. Use the arrow on a position to reveal the next replies.
Current setup
Move ideas
Takes central space with a protected pawn and frees the queen’s bishop.
Idea: Build a stable center that supports a broad positional setup.
Develops a knight and prevents White from occupying e4 unchallenged.
Idea: Keep the central pawns flexible and choose an Indian setup after White commits.
Advances the c-pawn to gain queenside space and control new squares.
Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.
Advances the g-pawn to gain kingside space and control new squares.
Idea: Create useful wing space while keeping the central structure flexible.
Develops the knight to c3, bringing it into the game.
Idea: Improve piece coordination and clear the back rank for castling and the rooks.
Waiting for Lichess game popularity.
Each line below is an indexed entry under King's Indian Defense. Open one to load it on the board and keep exploring from that position.
ECO groups openings by the structures they lead to, so these families tend to share plans with the King's Indian Defense.
85 more named lines sit inside this family — the tree above walks all of them.