Chess Openings Lab
a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1

King's Indian Attack: Symmetrical Defense

The Symmetrical Defense is 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6, where Black copies White's knight and fianchetto. Both sides put bishops on g2 and g7, and White decides between c4 and d4 for a center, or Bg2 for the Wahls Defense setups.

Moves
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6
ECO
A05
Engine
+0.25 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,708 games in our lichess sample
White scores
51.1%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • 3.c4 is the engine's choice: it grabs queenside space before Black commits.
  • Follow with d4 and Bg2, then trade on d5 for an open c-file.
  • 3.Bg2 leads to the Wahls Defense after Black castles and plays ...d5.
  • b3 or b4 are offbeat tries to fianchetto the queen's bishop too.

Black

  • Develop ...Bg7 and castle short, mirroring White's setup move for move here.
  • Support d5 with ...c6 so cxd5 can be met by ...cxd5 and a symmetrical center.
  • Answer c4 and d4 with ...d5 to fight for the center at once.
  • Keep the g7 bishop on the long diagonal; it is Black's main piece.

Plans and pawn structure

Both sides fianchetto and castle short. White usually plays c4 and d4, while Black answers with ...c6 and ...d5, reaching a symmetrical structure. The middlegame is about the c-file and central squares like e5 and e4. White's extra tempo gives a small edge, but Black's position is very solid. If White instead plays Bg2 and d3, Black can grab the center with ...d5 and reach the Wahls Defense setups.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.25: level. Its three top choices for White:

  1. +0.25 3.c4 Bg7 4.d4 c6 5.Bg2 d5
  2. +0.23 3.Bg2 d5 4.d4 c6 5.c4 Bg7
  3. +0.22 3.d4 Bg7 4.Bg2 c6 5.c4 d5

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,708 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.1%.

under 120052.3%
1200–159948.5%
1600–199950.5%
2000 and up51.7%

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

Where it goes next

  • Wahls Defense3.Bg2 · 431 games
  • Smyslov Variation3.b4 · rare
  • Double Fianchetto Attack3.b3 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, play ...Bg7, ...O-O, ...c6 and ...d5. Do not open the center early while White has the extra tempo. Fight for the c-file and keep the g7 bishop on the long diagonal, where it pressures b2 and d4. Then play for the e5 square.

Questions

What are the moves of the King's Indian Attack: Symmetrical Defense?

The King's Indian Attack: Symmetrical Defense starts 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6. Its ECO code is A05.

Is the King's Indian Attack: Symmetrical Defense good for Black?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.25 at depth 20, which is level. In 1,708 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.1%. A solid, flexible choice for Black players who like mirror setups; White keeps a small edge.

What is the main idea of the King's Indian Attack: Symmetrical Defense?

Black mirrors White's setup with ...Nf6 and ...g6. White grabs space with c4 and d4, and Black answers with ...c6 and ...d5 for a symmetrical center.

What should White play next?

The engine's first choice is c4, with Bg2 and d4 close behind. 3.c4 grabs queenside space before Black can commit to a center.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.