The Normal Variation, Deferred Fianchetto is a variation of the King's Indian Defense, catalogued as ECO E72. The line runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. g3, reaching the position shown below after 9 half-moves.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e4. Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is Black to move after five moves.
On the King's Indian Defense generally: A hypermodern defense where Black allows White to build a big center, then counterattacks it.
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See all 112 King's Indian Defense variations →
The Normal Variation, Deferred Fianchetto goes 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. g3. It is a variation of the King's Indian Defense and is catalogued as ECO E72.
The Normal Variation, Deferred Fianchetto is ECO E72. ECO codes group openings by their move order, so nearby codes cover closely related lines of the King's Indian Defense.
Stockfish evaluates the position after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. g3 at +0.16 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.
White holds the centre with pawns on d4 and e4. Development is level at one minor pieces each. It is Black to move.