Chess Openings Lab
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King's Indian Defense: Makogonov Variation

The Makogonov Variation is 5.h3, a quiet pawn move that takes g4 away from Black's knight and bishop. White wants Be3, Nf3 and possibly g4 later, while Black usually plays ...e5 or ...c6 and fights for queenside play after White closes with d5.

Moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3
ECO
E71
Engine
+0.56 · a slight edge for White (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
1,102 games in our lichess sample
White scores
53.1%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • Follow with Be3; without ...Ng4 available, the bishop sits safely on e3.
  • Close the center with d5 after ...e5, then gain space with b4 against the c5 knight.
  • Consider long castling with Qc2 and O-O-O, as one engine line shows, then push g4.
  • Keep Nf3 and Be2 flexible; h3 lets White choose the setup after Black commits.

Black

  • Castle and play ...c6 with ...e5, or ...e5 at once; both are in the engine lines.
  • After d5, route a knight to c5 with ...Nbd7 or ...Na6 to hit e4.
  • ...Nh5 and ...f5 are the classic kingside break, though h3 makes the attack slower.
  • Use ...a5 to secure the c5 outpost for the knight, so White's b4 push needs extra preparation.

Plans and pawn structure

After ...e5 and d5, the center locks with d5 and e4 against d6 and e5. White plays on the queenside with b4 and c5, or goes long and pushes g4 and h4. Black's best pieces are a knight on c5 and the dark bishop once ...f5 opens it. Because h3 stops ...Ng4, Black's fast kingside ideas need ...Nh5 or ...Ne8 first. The side that times its pawn break better gets the upper hand.

Where the engine's main line heads: Locked center: d5–e4 against d6–e5. A locked center: White's d5 and e4 against Black's d6 and e5. The game moves to the wings, where each side attacks where its pawns point.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.56: a slight edge for White. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.56 5...O-O 6.Be3 c6 7.Nf3 e5 8.d5
  2. +0.58 5...e5 6.d5 Nbd7 7.Be3 Nc5 8.Qc2
  3. +0.59 5...Nbd7 6.Be3 e5 7.d5 Nc5 8.Qc2

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

1,102 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.1%.

1200–159957.4%
1600–199950.4%
2000 and up54.4%

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

Where it goes next

  • Karpov System5...O-O · rare

How to play against it

As Black, play ...e5 or castle and ...c6 promptly; do not allow Be3 and Qd2 with no central challenge. After d5, aim a knight at c5 and support it with ...a5. As White, decide early between queenside play with b4 and a long-castle attack with g4.

Questions

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

The King's Indian Defense: Makogonov Variation starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3. Its ECO code is E71.

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

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.56 at depth 20, which is a slight edge for White. In 1,102 lichess games from our sample, White scored 53.1%. A flexible, sound line for White players who like to keep the setup open, and Black needs patience with the locked center.

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

White spends a move on h3 to stop ...Ng4 and ...Bg4, then sets up Be3 and closes with d5. Black aims for a knight on c5 and a later ...f5 break once the center is locked.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is O-O, with e5 and Nbd7 close behind. Castling first keeps Black flexible between ...c6 with ...e5 and other setups, waiting to see where White's pieces go.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.