Chess Openings Lab
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French Defense: King's Indian Attack

The King's Indian Attack against the French starts with 2.d3, a quiet move that keeps e4 supported and prepares Nd2, Ngf3, g3 and a bishop on g2. White plans a slow kingside attack built on an e5 push, while Black grabs central and queenside space.

Moves
1.e4 e6 2.d3
ECO
C00
Engine
−0.07 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
7,085 games in our lichess sample
White scores
50.4%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Build the setup: Nd2, Ngf3, g3, a bishop to g2 and short castling, then a rook to e1 behind the e-pawn.
  • Push e5 when Black castles short; the pawn cramps Black's kingside and supports a later h4-h5 attack.
  • After ...dxe4 dxe4, a queen trade on d1 costs White castling, but the queenless game stays calm and balanced.
  • Switch to a direct d4, as in the third engine line, if Black plays slow moves like ...Be7.

Black

  • Take space with ...d5 and ...c5, then ...Nc6 and ...Nf6 for a solid, flexible setup.
  • Expand on the queenside with ...b5 and ...a5 while White organizes the kingside attack.
  • Trading with ...dxe4 and then ...Qxd1+ swaps queens and takes away White's castling.
  • If White pushes e5, put a knight on d7 and hit the pawn later with ...f6.

Plans and pawn structure

The usual battle is a race. White keeps the center closed with e5, brings a knight toward f1, g3 or h2 and attacks with h4, the queen and pieces aimed at h7. Black castles short and attacks on the queenside with ...b5, ...b4 and ...a5, trying to open files toward White's king. If Black trades on e4 and swaps queens, the game becomes a quiet endgame-like position with White's king on d1.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position −0.07: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. −0.07 2...d5 3.Nf3 dxe4 4.dxe4 Qxd1+ 5.Kxd1
  2. −0.05 2...c5 3.Nf3 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.d4
  3. +0.06 2...Be7 3.d4 d5 4.Nc3 dxe4 5.Nxe4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

7,085 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 50.4%.

under 120048.2%
1200–159950.3%
1600–199949.5%
2000 and up54.0%

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

Where it goes next

  • King's Indian Attack, Franco-Hiva Gambit2...f5 · rare
  • Reversed Philidor Formation2...d5 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, play ...d5 and ...c5 to claim space, develop with ...Nc6 and ...Nf6, and start queenside play early. Do not wait passively: White's attack after e5 and h4 is dangerous if Black has no counterplay. The ...dxe4 queen trade is a simple equalizer if you prefer calm play.

Questions

What are the moves of the French Defense: King's Indian Attack?

The French Defense: King's Indian Attack starts 1.e4 e6 2.d3. Its ECO code is C00.

Is the French Defense: King's Indian Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position −0.07 at depth 20, which is level. In 7,085 lichess games from our sample, White scored 50.4%. A great low-theory system for White players who like slow buildups and kingside attacks, but it gives Black free equality with ...d5 and ...c5.

What is the main idea of the French Defense: King's Indian Attack?

White uses a flexible King's Indian setup with d3, Nd2, Ngf3, g3 and short castling, then attacks on the kingside after e5. Black grabs space with ...d5 and ...c5 and counters on the queenside.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is d5, with c5 and Be7 close behind. 2...d5 claims the center and offers a queen trade on d1 if White keeps the center open.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.