Chess Opening Theory/1. d4/1...Nf6/2. c4/2...g6/3. Nc3/3...Bg7/4. e4/4...d6/5. Nf3/5...O-O/6. Be2

King's Indian Defence C90 King's Indian defence → 5...O-O 6. Be2 · Orthodox variation This is the main line of the king's Indian. White has taken a wide swathe of the centre, developed most of their pieces, and is ready to castle. Black is now prepared to counterattack in the centre. 6...e5 is the main line. This may appear to blunder the pawn, but after 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Nxe5, Black can play 9...Nxe4 to recover the pawn while discovering an attack with their bishop. 10. Nxe4 Bxe5 and Black has equalised. Therefore, more common is to leave the tension, 7. O-O, to close the centre, 7. d5, or to develop the remaining bishop, 7. Be3. 6...c5 is an alternative pawn break, where Black chooses a more Benoni-style structure. 6...Na6, the Kazakh variation, is a surprising but sound sideline. Theory table References See also King's Indian Defense