Openings 1.d4 Nf6: Indian defenses

King’s Indian Defense: Classical, Sämisch and Stats by Rating

Black lets White take the center, castles quickly and then strikes with ...e5 or ...c5. In the main lines White attacks on the queenside and Black throws everything at White’s king.

For Black1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6Seen in 0.3% of rated games

Lichess rating

E70King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation

Games from this position (1600–1999): 22k

Played	Games	White · Draw · Black
29%	6,411	48%47%
18%	4,042	50%46%
13%	2,843	53%43%
11%	2,473	50%46%
10%	2,257	50%46%
9%	1,993	52%44%
4%	908	48%48%
4%	890	49%46%
0.7%	152	51%43%
0.6%	135	44%52%
0.6%	130	44%51%
0.5%	107	49%50%

Practice as White Practice as Black

Plans for both sides

White

Classical: Nf3, Be2, O-O; after ...e5 and d5, push c5 on the queenside.
Sämisch: f3 and Be3, often castling long and attacking with g4 and h4.
Do not open the center while Black’s pieces are aimed at your king.

Black

...O-O, ...e5, then ...Nc6 or ...Na6; after d5, play ...Ne8 and ...f5.
The kingside pawn storm (...f5–f4, ...g5) is the main plan.
The g7 bishop is your best piece; do not trade it cheaply.

King’s Indian Defense at each rating

How often the position after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 comes up in rated Lichess games, how it scores and what players answer next.

Rating	Games (Share of games)	White · Draw · Black	Top next move
<1200	872<0.1%	49%48%	5.Nf349%
1200–1599	6,8860.1%	48%48%	5.Nf343%
1600–1999	22k0.3%	50%46%	5.Nf329%
2000+	17k0.8%	51%43%	5.Nf324%
All	47k0.3%	50%45%	5.Nf329%

What usually comes next

The most played moves from here, all ratings together. Thicker line = played more often.

Main variations

The famous race: White plays c5 on the queenside, Black ...f5 on the kingside.
482 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 55%, 7% were drawn, Black won 38%.
Show on the board: 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
White secures e4 with f3 and often castles long.
4,047 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 52%, 5% were drawn, Black won 43%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Be3
Maximum center for White; Black hits back with ...c5 and ...e6.
6,222 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 50%, 5% were drawn, Black won 46%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4
White mirrors with g3 and Bg2. Calm and positional.
3,405 games from this position (all ratings, any move order). White won 49%, 6% were drawn, Black won 45%.
Show on the board: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d6

At club level

Club King’s Indian games are races: Black attacks on the kingside and White on the queenside. Learning the ...f5 plan is worth more than memorizing move orders.

Practice it

The trainer answers with the replies people at your rating choose, in the same proportions, and brings back your mistakes on a schedule.

Practice as Black Practice as White

Related openings

Indian Defense: 1.d4 Nf6
1.d4 Nf6
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Nimzo-Indian Defense
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Old Indian Defense
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Trompowsky Attack
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Budapest Gambit
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Grünfeld Defense
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