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King's Indian Defense

104 variations · 17M games from Lichess · Updated January 2026

Key Finding

King's Indian Defense is balanced for White at 51.1% expected score.

This opening produces roughly even results, with outcomes depending more on middlegame play than opening choice.

You play
Playable
Rating
Time
White Expected Score0.0%Range (90% confident): 51.1% – 51.2%Aggregated from 104 variations
0%51.1%100%
Range (90% confident): 51.1% – 51.2%
ContextOverall · n=17M
Outcome Distribution
48.9%4.5%46.7%
Win
Draw
Loss
3.Nc3
King's Indian Defense
Variations104
Games (Context)17M
Avg Length36 moves
Draw Rate4.5%

What Should I Play?

Player-controlled continuations for White · Overall

#1King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Florentine GambitTop Pick
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4 O-O 6.Nf3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Be2 exd5 9.e5
Min adv +23.7% · n=2.9K
63.3%
#2King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Bayonet Attack, Sokolov's Line
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 9.b4 Nh5 10.Re1
Min adv +18.4% · n=11K
59.9%
#3King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System, Benko Attack
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 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.f3 f5 11.g4
Min adv +17.0% · n=4.9K
59.7%
#4King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System, Kozul Gambit
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 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.Be3 f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bf2 g5 13.Rc1 Ng6 14.c5
Min adv +16.7% · n=1.5K
60.5%
#5King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Bg5
Min adv +13.7% · n=28K
57.4%
#6King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System, Neo-Classical Line
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 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.Be3
Min adv +13.0% · n=24K
57.0%
#7King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System
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 9.Ne1
Min adv +10.8% · n=71K
55.7%
#8King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Classical Main Line
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d6 6.O-O Nbd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.e4 c6 9.h3
Min adv +10.5% · n=50K
55.6%
#9King's Indian Defense: Exchange Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.dxe5
Min adv +8.3% · n=75K
54.5%
#10King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Yugoslav Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d6 6.O-O c5 7.Nc3
Min adv +7.9% · n=162K
54.2%

Continuations show the most common variations from this opening. Higher expected scores indicate better statistical outcomes, but familiarity and playstyle matter too.

What is the King's Indian Defense expected score for White?

Snapshot

Overall, the King's Indian Defense family has a 51.1% expected score for White (we're 90% confident it's between 51.1% and 51.2%), aggregated from 104 variations and 17M Lichess games.

White Win% by Rating

Improves with rating: 47% → 51%

0
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
2200
2500+

  • 0-999: 47.1% win rate (95,463 games)
  • 1000-1199: 48.5% win rate (357,449 games)
  • 1200-1399: 48.5% win rate (888,271 games)
  • 1400-1599: 48.6% win rate (1,773,889 games)
  • 1600-1799: 48.5% win rate (2,892,443 games)
  • 1800-1999: 48.4% win rate (3,898,235 games)
  • 2000-2199: 48.8% win rate (3,555,924 games)
  • 2200-2499: 49.9% win rate (2,624,852 games)
  • 2500+: 51.2% win rate (637,193 games)

White Win% by Time Control

Similar across time controls (~49%)

UltraBullet
Bullet
Blitz
Rapid
Classical

  • UltraBullet: 47.7% win rate (31,520 games)
  • Bullet: 49.1% win rate (6,632,238 games)
  • Blitz: 48.8% win rate (8,346,595 games)
  • Rapid: 48.1% win rate (1,648,221 games)
  • Classical: 47.4% win rate (65,145 games)

Rating vs Time Control Matrix

Click cells to filter · White expected scores

White% by Rating × Time Control

Click any cell to filter. Green = above 50%, Red = below 50%.

RatingUBBulleBlitzRapidClass
0-999
1000-1199
1200-1399
1400-1599
1600-1799
1800-1999
2000-2199
2200-2499
2500+

Expected score matrix by rating bracket and time control

  • 0-999 rating, UltraBullet: 36.6% expected score (181 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Bullet: 47.7% expected score (42,907 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Blitz: 48.9% expected score (42,656 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Rapid: 49.5% expected score (9,687 games)
  • 0-999 rating, Classical: 29.1% expected score (32 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, UltraBullet: 46.5% expected score (685 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Bullet: 49.8% expected score (160,522 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Blitz: 49.9% expected score (159,001 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Rapid: 50.1% expected score (36,890 games)
  • 1000-1199 rating, Classical: 48.2% expected score (351 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, UltraBullet: 43.7% expected score (2,561 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Bullet: 49.8% expected score (367,100 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Blitz: 50.1% expected score (415,206 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Rapid: 50.3% expected score (101,291 games)
  • 1200-1399 rating, Classical: 51.5% expected score (2,113 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, UltraBullet: 45.0% expected score (7,303 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Bullet: 49.9% expected score (654,707 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Blitz: 50.4% expected score (882,387 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Rapid: 50.2% expected score (220,977 games)
  • 1400-1599 rating, Classical: 50.5% expected score (8,515 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, UltraBullet: 49.4% expected score (10,544 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Bullet: 50.2% expected score (989,614 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Blitz: 50.5% expected score (1,510,444 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Rapid: 50.2% expected score (363,844 games)
  • 1600-1799 rating, Classical: 49.8% expected score (17,997 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, UltraBullet: 52.2% expected score (6,891 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Bullet: 50.5% expected score (1,290,932 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Blitz: 50.7% expected score (2,111,480 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Rapid: 50.4% expected score (465,688 games)
  • 1800-1999 rating, Classical: 50.6% expected score (23,244 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, UltraBullet: 54.6% expected score (2,534 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Bullet: 50.7% expected score (1,316,251 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Blitz: 51.7% expected score (1,902,938 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Rapid: 51.5% expected score (323,760 games)
  • 2000-2199 rating, Classical: 54.8% expected score (10,441 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, UltraBullet: 53.4% expected score (737 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Bullet: 51.7% expected score (1,326,426 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Blitz: 53.8% expected score (1,175,252 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Rapid: 55.4% expected score (120,153 games)
  • 2200-2499 rating, Classical: 58.3% expected score (2,284 games)
  • 2500+ rating, UltraBullet: 52.9% expected score (84 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Bullet: 54.2% expected score (483,779 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Blitz: 56.9% expected score (147,231 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Rapid: 61.8% expected score (5,931 games)
  • 2500+ rating, Classical: 61.2% expected score (168 games)

Matrix view reveals how performance varies across rating brackets and time controls. Green indicates favorable, red indicates challenging contexts.

Variations (104)

1
King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Florentine Gambit2.9K games
63.3%
2
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Bayonet Attack, Sokolov's Line11K games
59.9%
3
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System, Benko Attack4.9K games
59.7%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System, Kozul Gambit1.5K games
60.5%
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation28K games
57.4%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System, Neo-Classical Line24K games
57.0%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System71K games
55.7%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Classical Main Line50K games
55.6%
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Flexible Defense37K games
54.7%
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Double Fianchetto31K games
54.8%
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Orthodox Variation67K games
54.5%
King's Indian Defense: Exchange Variation75K games
54.5%
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Closed Variation, Main Line3.5K games
55.4%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Yugoslav Variation162K games
54.2%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Modern System11K games
54.7%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Bayonet Attack73K games
54.2%
King's Indian Defense: Kramer Variation74K games
54.1%
King's Indian Defense: Steiner Attack94K games
54.1%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Gligoric-Taimanov System74K games
54.0%
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Bobotsov-Korchnoi-Petrosian Variation70K games
54.0%
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation187K games
53.8%
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Main Line11K games
54.2%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System, Traditional Line3.5K games
54.6%
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Closed Variation110K games
53.4%
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Standard Development179K games
53.2%
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Geller Defense31K games
53.5%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Yugoslav Variation, Exchange Line42K games
53.3%
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Nc6 Defense17K games
53.4%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Delayed Fianchetto134K games
53.0%
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Advance Variation25K games
53.3%
King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Exchange Variation5.9K games
53.8%
King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System174K games
52.7%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Hungarian Variation19K games
53.1%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation1.0M games
52.5%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Positional Defense104K games
52.6%
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Yates Defense159K games
52.4%
King's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation, Keres Defense861 games
55.0%
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Normal Defense381K games
52.3%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Double Fianchetto Attack13K games
52.8%
King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack839K games
51.9%
King's Indian Defense: Makogonov Variation452K games
51.8%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Long Variation9.9K games
52.5%
King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Normal Attack48K games
51.9%
King's Indian Defense: Accelerated Averbakh Variation248K games
51.6%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Debrecen Defense142K games
51.6%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Classical Variation90K games
51.6%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Uhlmann-Szabo System218K games
51.4%
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Byrne Defense9.9K games
52.0%
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Exchange Variation2.4K games
52.7%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Positional Defense, Main Line838 games
53.8%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Korchnoi Attack1.7K games
53.0%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Aronin-Taimanov Defense105K games
51.3%
King's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation47K games
51.2%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Simagin Variation84K games
51.2%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Yugoslav System68K games
51.2%
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation1.8M games
50.9%
King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Dynamic Attack236K games
51.0%
King's Indian Defense: Smyslov Variation910K games
50.8%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Carlsbad Variation43K games
51.1%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Ukrainian Defense3.5K games
52.1%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Donner Defense7.0K games
51.6%
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Deferred Fianchetto37K games
51.0%
King's Indian Defense: Pomar System10K games
51.4%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Classical Fianchetto169K games
50.8%
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit138K games
50.7%
King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Fluid Attack3.7K games
51.8%
King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Benoni Variation82K games
50.7%
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation1.4M games
50.5%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Karlsbad Variation29K games
50.9%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Immediate Fianchetto30K games
50.9%
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Modern Defense, Burgess Line553 games
53.8%
King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation469K games
50.4%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Yugoslav Variation, Rare Line37K games
50.6%
King's Indian Defense2.1M games
50.2%
King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Modern Defense2.6K games
51.7%
King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Queenside Storm Line6.2K games
51.2%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Panno Variation100K games
50.3%
King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Hollywood Variation124K games
50.2%
King's Indian Defense: Kazakh Variation28K games
50.5%
King's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation, Normal Defense22K games
50.5%
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Panno Main Line13K games
50.5%
King's Indian Defense: Zinnowitz Variation588K games
49.8%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Benjamin Defense11K games
50.5%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Larsen Defense43K games
50.1%
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Rare Defenses1.6M games
49.6%
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Modern Defense5.8K games
50.6%
King's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation, Stein Defense70K games
49.5%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Glek Defense45K games
49.6%
King's Indian Defense: Larsen Variation232K games
49.2%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Yugoslav Variation, Advance Line59K games
49.4%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Panno Variation, Donner Line479 games
52.7%
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Panno Formation11K games
49.5%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Lesser Simagin (Spassky)42K games
48.9%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Kavalek Defense42K games
48.6%
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense1.6K games
49.8%
King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Positional Defense, Closed Line110K games
47.9%
King's Indian Defense: Santasiere Variation5.1K games
48.6%
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, with Bg5205 games
52.9%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Panno Variation, Korchnoi Line211 games
52.4%
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Spanish Defense2.2K games
48.4%
King's Indian Defense: Semi-Classical Variation, Exchange Variation23K games
47.2%
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Ruban Variation254 games
48.5%
King's Indian Defense: S��misch Variation, Normal Defense212 games
48.6%
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Pterodactyl Variation271 games
44.9%
Analyze King's Indian Defense PositionsGet move-by-move win rates with the TrueElo analyzer

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the King's Indian Defense win rate?

The King's Indian Defense family has a 48.9% (90% CI: 48.8%-48.9%) win rate for white, aggregated from 104 variations and 17M rated games from Lichess.

How many King's Indian Defense variations are there?

This analysis covers 104 King's Indian Defense variations with sufficient game data. Each variation has its own statistics page with detailed win rates by rating and time control.

At what rating does the King's Indian Defense perform best?

The King's Indian Defense family performs best at 2500+ Elo with a 51.2% win rate for white (637K games). Performance may vary by specific variation.

Is the King's Indian Defense better in blitz or rapid?

Bullet (49.1%) outperforms Classical (47.4%) by 1.7% across all King's Indian Defense variations.

How sharp is the King's Indian Defense?

King's Indian Defense games are 95.5% decisive (non-draws), with an average length of 36 moves. Sharpness varies by specific variation.

Is the King's Indian Defense a good opening family?

The King's Indian Defense family is statistically balanced overall with a 48.9% (90% CI: 48.8%-48.9%) aggregated win rate. However, win rates vary significantly between the 104 variations—explore individual lines to find the best fit for your style.