Chess Openings Lab
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King's Indian Attack: Sicilian Variation

The Sicilian Variation of the King's Indian Attack is 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5, where Black grabs queenside space. White usually plays Bg2 and castles, then chooses between d4 and d3 with e4, while Black builds with ...e6, ...Nc6 or ...Nf6.

Moves
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5
ECO
A07, A08
Engine
+0.20 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,203 games in our lichess sample
White scores
56.6%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 3.Bg2 is the engine's choice and leads to the French Variation after ...Nc6.
  • Play d4 after castling to hit c5 and open the long diagonal.
  • 3.d4 is a direct option: after ...cxd4, b3 and Bb2 build a queenside fianchetto.
  • 3.a3 prepares b4 to attack the c5 pawn and gain queenside space.

Black

  • Develop ...e6 and ...Nf6 for a solid center that keeps d5 supported.
  • Answer d4 with ...cxd4 and later ...e5 to grab more central space.
  • ...Nc6 supports e5 and d4, and it transposes to the French Variation.
  • Keep d5 protected from White's g2 bishop with ...e6 and ...Nf6 together.

Plans and pawn structure

Black's c5 pawn gives queenside space, and White plans to attack it with d4 or b4. After Bg2 and castling, White often plays d4 to open the long diagonal. Black supports d5 with ...e6 and develops with ...Nf6 and ...Be7. The game can transpose into many structures, but the theme is the same: White's long diagonal pressure versus Black's central space.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.20: level. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.20 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Nf6 5.d4 cxd4
  2. +0.12 3.d4 cxd4 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.O-O h6
  3. −0.10 3.a3 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 e5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,203 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 56.6%.

under 120052.3%
1200–159956.2%
1600–199953.9%
2000 and up60.6%

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

Where it goes next

How to play against it

As Black, develop ...e6 and ...Nf6, keeping d5 strong. Do not let White's bishop on g2 dominate the long diagonal. Answer d4 with ...cxd4 and central play, and watch for a3 and b4 against the c5 pawn on the queenside.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files these lines under the same name, though they reach a different position: 1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Ngf3 c5 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.O-O O-O 8.Re1; 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2; 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.O-O e6 5.d3.

Questions

What are the moves of the King's Indian Attack: Sicilian Variation?

The King's Indian Attack: Sicilian Variation starts 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5. Its ECO code is A07, A08.

Is the King's Indian Attack: Sicilian Variation good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.20 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,203 lichess games from our sample, White scored 56.6%. A flexible choice for Black players who like space; the game often transposes into related setups.

What is the main idea of the King's Indian Attack: Sicilian Variation?

Black grabs space with ...c5. White develops Bg2, castles and strikes with d4 to open the long diagonal.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is Bg2, with d4 and a3 close behind. 3.Bg2 develops and aims at d5 before deciding on d4 or d3.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.