Chess Openings Lab
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English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation

The King's Indian Formation is 2...g6 after 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3, preparing ...Bg7 and short castling. White can build a full center with Nc3, e4 and d4 for a King's Indian, while Black keeps the option of a Grünfeld with ...d5.

Moves
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6
ECO
A15
Engine
+0.42 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
823 games in our lichess sample
White scores
51.0%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 3.Nc3 and 4.e4 grab the center before Black can strike with ...d5. The engine line then plays 5.d4.
  • 3.d4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 invites a Grünfeld, and 5.Qb3 is the engine's sharp reply.
  • 3.e3 and Be2 give a quieter setup that keeps the center flexible.
  • Castle short and prepare queenside space with b4 when Black plays ...e5.

Black

  • Play ...Bg7 and ...O-O first. The bishop on the long diagonal is the heart of the setup.
  • ...d6 and ...e5 give a classic King's Indian, as in the top engine line.
  • ...d5 is a Grünfeld answer if White has not yet played e4.
  • ...c5 can turn the game into a symmetrical English if White avoids d4.

Plans and pawn structure

After 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 O-O 5.d4 d6 6.Be2 e5, the structure is classic King's Indian. If White closes the center with d5, Black plays ...Nh5 or ...Ne8 and ...f5 on the kingside, while White expands with b4 and c5 on the queenside. If the center stays open, Black's g7-bishop presses d4. In Grünfeld lines, Black gives White the center and attacks it with ...c5 and ...Nc6.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.42: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.42 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 O-O 5.d4 d6
  2. +0.39 3.d4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 5.Qb3 dxc4
  3. +0.26 3.e3 Bg7 4.d4 O-O 5.Be2 d6

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

823 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.0%.

1200–159955.1%
1600–199950.7%
2000 and up50.5%

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Where it goes next

  • English Orangutan3.b4 · rare
  • Symmetrical Variation, Duchamp Variation3.g3 · rare

How to play against it

As White, decide early whether to allow ...d5. If you dislike Grünfeld positions, play Nc3 and e4 before d4. As Black, do not delay ...Bg7 and ...O-O; if White plays slowly, ...d5 or ...c5 gives good play.

Questions

What are the moves of the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation?

The English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation starts 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6. Its ECO code is A15.

Is the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.42 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 823 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.0%. A natural choice for King's Indian players, since most White setups lead to familiar positions.

What is the main idea of the English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, King's Indian Formation?

Black fianchettoes to g7 and castles, aiming for a King's Indian or Grünfeld depending on White's center. White's main try is Nc3 and e4, building a big center before Black can strike.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Nc3, with d4 and e3 close behind. 3.Nc3 prepares e4, building the center before Black can play ...d5.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.