Polish Opening: King's Indian Variation
The King's Indian Variation of the Polish is 1.b4 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6, where Black fianchettoes to meet the b2 bishop head on. White builds with c4, e3 and Nf3, while Black castles behind the g7 bishop and later chooses between ...d6 with ...e5 and a ...d5 center.
- Moves
- 1.b4 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6
- ECO
- A00
- Engine
- +0.06 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
- Played
- 921 games in our lichess sample
- White scores
- 53.7%
Key ideas for both sides
White
- Play 3.c4 to grab space; the bishop on b2 and pawn on c4 together cover d4 and e5.
- Follow with e3 and Nf3, keeping the long diagonal open for the b2 bishop.
- Meet ...a5 with a3, as in the top engine line, keeping the b4 pawn supported.
- The rare e4 push grabs more center at once, but the pawn on e4 needs care against the f6 knight.
Black
- Complete ...Bg7 and ...O-O; the g7 bishop cancels White's pressure on the long diagonal.
- Hit the b4 pawn with ...a5 to provoke a3 and loosen White's queenside.
- Play ...d6 and ...e5 to close the diagonal, or ...d5 for a classical center.
- An early ...Bg4 after ...d5 pins the f3 knight and makes e3 harder to support.
Plans and pawn structure
Both bishops face each other on the long diagonal, so the struggle is about who controls e5 and d4. White plays on the queenside with b4, c4 and a3, aiming for b5 and pressure on c7 or the d6 pawn. Black finishes castling and picks a center: ...d6 and ...e5 shuts the b2 bishop out, while ...d5 with ...Bg4 claims light squares. Breaking with ...a5 against b4 is a recurring resource for Black in both setups.
What the engine plays from here
Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.06: level. Its three top choices for White:
- +0.06 3.c4 Bg7 4.e3 a5 5.a3 O-O
- +0.04 3.e3 Bg7 4.Nf3 O-O 5.c4 d6
- +0.03 3.a3 Bg7 4.Nf3 d5 5.e3 Bg4
Pawns, from White's side.
How it scores on lichess
921 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.7%.
Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.
Where it goes next
- King's Indian Variation, Schiffler Attack3.e4 · rare
- King's Indian Variation, Sokolsky Attack3.c4 · rare
How to play against it
As White, play 3.c4 and finish with e3, Nf3 and Be2 before thinking about attack. Keep a3 ready for ...a5. Do not trade the b2 bishop for the f6 knight without a reason, because the g7 bishop then becomes stronger.
Questions
What are the moves of the Polish Opening: King's Indian Variation?
The Polish Opening: King's Indian Variation starts 1.b4 Nf6 2.Bb2 g6. Its ECO code is A00.
Is the Polish Opening: King's Indian Variation good for Black?
Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.06 at depth 20, which is level. In 921 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.7%. A flexible setup for Black players who know King's Indian structures, while White must handle a quiet game where small queenside gains decide.
What is the main idea of the Polish Opening: King's Indian Variation?
Black opposes White's b2 bishop with a fianchetto on g7 and castles. White takes queenside space with c4 and a3, while Black decides between ...e5 and ...d5 and uses ...a5 against b4.
What should White play next?
The engine's first choice is c4, with e3 and a3 close behind. 3.c4 adds central control and keeps Black from settling with ...d5 for free.
Related lines
Updated October 2026. Sources and method.