King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation: Plans and Traps

Key ideas for both sides

White

After ...c5, close with d5 and play Qd2, as the top engine line shows, before choosing a side for the king.
Keep f2-f4 and h4 in mind; with the knight still on g1, the f-pawn is free to advance.
Long castling with O-O-O is a real option once Qd2 is in, sharpening the game.
If ...e5 comes too early, the pin on f6 and dxe5 can leave Black's center loose.

Black

Play ...c5 and meet d5 with ...e6, opening the e-file before White's king is tucked away.
After ...exd5 and exd5, ...Qb6 hits b2 and asks how White will finish development.
...h6 first is fine: if the bishop drops to e3, ...c5 and ...Qa5 pressure the c3 knight.
Avoid ...Nc6 and ...Ne5 setups unless you are ready for White's d5 and f4 gaining space.

Plans and pawn structure

With the bishop on g5 and the knight still on g1, White keeps the f-pawn free and can use Qd2, Nf3 or Nh3 later. Black gets a Benoni structure after ...c5, d5 and ...e6: Black's majority and the open e-file against White's queenside majority and space. If White goes O-O-O, Black's ...b5 and queenside pawns become an attack. If White castles short, the game turns into a slower maneuvering fight around e4 and the c-file.

Where the engine's main line heads: Benoni structure: White pawn on d5, Black pawns c5 and d6. White has a pawn on d5; Black has c5 and d6 and no e-pawn. White has more space, Black has a queenside majority and an open e-file.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.34: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:

+0.34 6...c5 7.d5 e6 8.Qd2 exd5 9.exd5
+0.45 6...h6 7.Be3 c5 8.dxc5 Qa5 9.Bd2
+0.59 6...Nc6 7.d5 Ne5 8.Qd2 a5 9.f4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

352 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 51.0%.

1600–199947.1%

2000 and up52.3%

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

Where it goes next

Averbakh Variation, Flexible Defense6...h6 · rare
Averbakh Variation, Geller Defense6...Nbd7 · rare
Averbakh Variation, Modern Defense, Burgess Line6...Na6 · rare
Averbakh Variation, Nc6 Defense6...Nc6 · rare
Averbakh Variation, Spanish Defense6...a6 · rare
Averbakh Variation, Main Line6...c5 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, choose ...c5 at once and follow with ...e6 to open lines while White's king is still in the center. Keep the queen ready for ...Qb6 or ...Qa5. Do not shuffle with ...Nbd7 and slow ...e5, which lets White finish Qd2 and attack with f4 or h4.

Questions

What are the moves of the King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation?

The King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Bg5. Its ECO code is E73.

Is the King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.34 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 352 lichess games from our sample, White scored 51.0%. A solid weapon for White players who like space and an option to castle long, while Black needs to know the ...c5 and ...e6 break well.

What is the main idea of the King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation?

White pins the f6 knight with Bg5 to slow down Black's normal ...e5 break. Black answers with ...c5, and after d5 ...e6 the game becomes a Benoni-style fight with open lines in the center.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is c5, with h6 and Nc6 close behind. ...c5 hits the d4 pawn before White has Nf3, and after d5 ...e6 opens the center against the uncastled king.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.

King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation