The Wahls Defense is a variation of the King's Indian Attack, catalogued as ECO A05. The line runs 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O O-O 5. d3 d5, reaching the position shown below after 10 half-moves.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d5. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is White to move after five moves. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.
On the King's Indian Attack generally: ECO A05. A chess opening with 18 known variations.
You can play through this variation move by move in your browser — Learn mode walks the line with an explanation at each step, and Drill mode replays it from memory so you find out whether you actually know it. No account is required.
See all 6 King's Indian Attack variations →
The Wahls Defense goes 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O O-O 5. d3 d5. It is a variation of the King's Indian Attack and is catalogued as ECO A05.
The Wahls Defense is ECO A05. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the King's Indian Attack.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O O-O 5. d3 d5 at -0.14 at depth 18, which is balanced. Engine evaluation is only a starting point — at club level the practical value of a line is mostly about whether you know its plans better than your opponent does.
Black holds the centre with pawns on d5. Development is level at two minor pieces each. It is White to move. Both kings have castled kingside, so play tends to shift to the centre and the opposite flank.