King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Positional Defense, Main Line

Before the first move

The King's Indian Defense is a hypermodern battleground where Black allows White to build a massive center, only to strike back later. In this Positional Main Line, both sides focus on slow maneuvers and central stability rather than immediate tactical fireworks. It is a game of patience and deep strategic planning.

1. d4White

White begins with d4, the most common way to start a closed game. By occupying the center, White invites you into a strategic duel. You can respond with classic moves like d5 or Nf6, or even the sharper Englund Gambit.

1... Nf6Black · your move

Develop your knight to f6. This flexible move prevents White from immediately playing e4 and keeps your options open for several different defensive setups against the d4 opening.

Other paths here: Na6 (Australian Defense) · g5 (Borg Defense: Borg Gambit) · b6 (English Defense) · e5 (Englund Gambit)

2. c4White

White plays c4, gaining more space and preparing the queen's gambit style structure. White could have tried the London System with Bf4 or the Trompowsky with Bg5, but c4 leads to the most complex main lines.

Other paths here: f4 (Canard Opening) · g4 (Indian Defense: Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit) · e4 (Indian Defense: Omega Gambit) · d5 (Indian Defense: Pawn Push Variation)

2... g6Black · your move

Push your pawn to g6. You are preparing to fianchetto your bishop on g7, where it will exert long-range pressure along the great diagonal toward White's queenside.

Other paths here: g5 (Indian Defense: Medusa Gambit) · b5 (Indian Defense: Pyrenees Gambit) · a6 (Indian: 2.c4 a6) · Nc6 (Mexican Defense)

3. Nc3White

White plays Nc3, developing naturally and preparing to seize the full center. White sometimes tries g3 for a quieter Fianchetto Variation, but this knight move is the most direct way to challenge Black's setup.

Other paths here: d5 (Indian Defense: Anti-Grünfeld, Advance Variation) · f3 (Indian Defense: Anti-Grünfeld, Alekhine Variation) · h4 (Indian Defense: Anti-Grünfeld, Basman-Williams Attack) · g3 (King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Immediate Fianchetto)

3... Bg7Black · your move

Place your bishop on g7. This 'fianchetto' is the soul of your position. From here, the bishop breathes fire down the long diagonal, waiting for the center to open up.

Other paths here: d5 (Grünfeld Defense) · c5 (King's Indian: 3.Nc3 c5) · c6 (King's Indian: 3.Nc3 c6) · d6 (King's Indian: 3.Nc3 d6)

4. e4White

White plays e4, completing the ideal pawn center. This is the starting point for many aggressive systems like the Saemisch or the Four Pawns Attack, though here White is heading for the more refined Classical Variation.

Other paths here: Bf4 (King's Indian: 4.Bf4) · Bg5 (King's Indian: 4.Bg5) · g3 (King's Indian: 4.g3) · Nf3 (King's Indian: 4.Nf3)

4... d6Black · your move

Move your pawn to d6. This essential move stops White from pushing e5 to kick your knight and prepares for your own central counter-strike, usually with e5 or c5.

Other paths here: O-O (King's Indian: 4.e4 O-O)

5. Nf3White

White plays Nf3, the most popular and flexible choice. Other aggressive setups like the Makogonov (h3) or the Averbakh (Bg5) exist, but this move focuses on pure, classical development and central control.

Other paths here: Bg5 (King's Indian Defense: Accelerated Averbakh Variation) · Nge2 (King's Indian Defense: Kramer Variation) · Bd3 (King's Indian: 4.e4 d6 5.Bd3) · h3 (King's Indian Defense: Makogonov Variation)

5... O-OBlack · your move

Castle your king to safety. Your king is now tucked away behind a wall of pawns, and your rook is ready to join the action once the center opens.

Other paths here: Bg4 (King's Indian: 5.Nf3 Bg4) · c5 (King's Indian: 5.Nf3 c5) · Nbd7 (King's Indian: 5.Nf3 Nbd7)

6. Be2White

White plays Be2, the signature of the Orthodox Variation. White avoids the more provocative Bg5 or Be3 for now, preferring to finish development before deciding on a specific central plan.

Other paths here: Be3 (King's Indian Defense: Larsen Variation) · Bg5 (King's Indian Defense: Zinnowitz Variation) · Bd3 (King's Indian: 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3) · h3 (King's Indian: 5.Nf3 O-O 6.h3)

6... e5Black · your move

Strike at the center with e5. This is the thematic break in the King's Indian. You are challenging White's d4 pawn and forcing them to make a decision about the central tension.

Other paths here: Na6 (King's Indian Defense: Kazakh Variation) · a5 (King's Indian: 6.Be2 a5) · a6 (King's Indian: 6.Be2 a6) · Bg4 (King's Indian: 6.Be2 Bg4)

7. O-OWhite

White castles, maintaining the tension. White could have played d5 to close the center (Petrosian Variation) or exchanged on e5, but castling keeps all options on the table for the coming middlegame.

Other paths here: dxe5 (King's Indian Defense: Exchange Variation) · Be3 (King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Gligoric-Taimanov System) · d5 (King's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation)

7... Nbd7Black · your move

Develop your knight to d7. This piece supports the e5 pawn and prepares for further maneuvers. It avoids blocking your bishop on g7 while keeping an eye on the c5 and e5 squares.

Other paths here: c6 (King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Donner Defense) · Na6 (King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Glek Defense) · a5 (King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Ukrainian Defense) · exd4 (King's Indian: 7.O-O exd4)

8. Re1White

White plays Re1, a deep prophylactic move. By reinforcing e4, White prepares for the center to open. You could see Be3 or d5 here as well, but Re1 is the most patient approach.

Other paths here: Be3 (King's Indian: 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Be3) · Qc2 (King's Indian: 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Qc2) · d5 (King's Indian: 7.O-O Nbd7 8.d5 Nc5)

8... c6Black · your move

Push your pawn to c6. This move blunts White's knight on c3 and prepares a possible queenside expansion or a retreat for your queen to c7 or b6.

Other paths here: a5 (King's Indian: 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Re1 a5) · exd4 (King's Indian: 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Re1 exd4) · h6 (King's Indian: 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Re1 h6) · Re8 (King's Indian: 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Re1 Re8)

9. Bf1White

White plays Bf1, completing a classic maneuver. The bishop is now out of the way, and the rook on e1 is fully active. White is ready for the long-term maneuvering battle that characterizes this line.

Other paths here: Rb1 (King's Indian: 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Re1 c6 9.Rb1)

9... a5Black · your move

Advance your pawn to a5. You are gaining space on the queenside and preventing White from easily expanding with b4. This move secures the c5 square for your knight's future use.

Other paths here: exd4 (King's Indian: 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Re1 c6 9.Bf1 exd4) · Re8 (King's Indian: 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Re1 c6 9.Bf1 Re8)

Where you stand

The position is a masterpiece of tension. White has more space and a very solid structure, while Black has a flexible setup ready to strike on either wing. White will likely aim for a d5 push to close the center, while Black often looks for f5 or queenside counterplay. Precision in the next few moves will determine who dictates the pace.

• d7-c5 Maneuver the knight to c5 to pressure e4
• c1-e3 Develop the bishop to e3 to control d4
• f6-h5 Clear the f-pawn for an f5 break
• d4-d5 Push d5 to gain space and close center