Chess Openings Lab
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King's Indian Defense: Larsen Variation

The Larsen Variation is 6.Be3, developing the bishop before Be2 so the f1 bishop stays flexible. White wants a quick Qd2 and space, while Black jumps at the bishop with ...Ng4 or plays ...e5 first, using the fact that nothing covers g4.

Moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be3
ECO
E90
Engine
+0.33 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
410 games in our lichess sample
White scores
48.5%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After ...Ng4 put the bishop on g5, then on h4 and g3, as the top engine line shows.
  • Meet ...e5 with Be2 so the g4 square is finally covered; then d5 gains space.
  • Use h3 and even g4 against ...Na6 and ...e5, grabbing space on the kingside.
  • Keep the queen ready for Qd2 to connect with the e3 bishop once Black's knight has moved.

Black

  • Play ...Ng4 to hit e3 at once; White has not played Be2, so g4 is free.
  • After Bg5 and ...h6, ...g5 and ...e5 gain kingside space and chase the bishop.
  • ...e5 first is also good; if White plays Be2, follow with ...Ng4 and ...f6.
  • A knight on c6 adds pressure on d4 and supports the ...e5 break.

Plans and pawn structure

The fight is about the e3 bishop and the g4 square. If Black plays ...Ng4, White's bishop wanders to g5, h4 or g3 while Black grabs space with ...h6, ...g5 and ...e5. If Black plays ...e5 first, White can close with d5 and use queenside space with c5 later. Black's kingside pawns and the f-file give attacking chances, while White wants a stable center and queenside play.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.33: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.33 6...Ng4 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3
  2. +0.34 6...e5 7.Be2 Ng4 8.Bg5 f6 9.Bc1
  3. +0.57 6...Na6 7.h3 e5 8.g4 exd4 9.Nxd4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

410 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 48.5%.

1200–159952.6%
1600–199945.5%
2000 and up49.2%

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

How to play against it

As Black, punish the move order with ...Ng4 or ...e5 before White plays Be2. Keep ...h6 and ...g5 in reserve to hunt the bishop if it runs to g5 and h4. Avoid quiet ...Nbd7 moves that let White finish h3 and Qd2 for free.

Questions

What are the moves of the King's Indian Defense: Larsen Variation?

The King's Indian Defense: Larsen Variation starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be3. Its ECO code is E90.

Is the King's Indian Defense: Larsen Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.33 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 410 lichess games from our sample, White scored 48.5%. A tricky sideline for White players who want to avoid main lines, while Black gets easy play by hitting the bishop with ...Ng4.

What is the main idea of the King's Indian Defense: Larsen Variation?

White plays Be3 early to support d4 and prepare Qd2, but this leaves g4 undefended. Black answers with ...Ng4 or ...e5 and uses that square to harass the bishop.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is Ng4, with e5 and Na6 close behind. ...Ng4 attacks the e3 bishop immediately, because White has no bishop on e2 to cover g4.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.