King's Indian Defence


Overview

The King's Indian Defence is a hypermodern chess opening. It appears on the board after the following moves:

  1. d4 Nf6
  2. c4 g6



In the King’s Indian Defense, as in other hypermodern openings, the main idea for Black is to give up his central control and allow White to expand his control of the board while Black develops his minor pieces. He allows that only in order to counterstrike at White’s gained space and weakened, overextended pawns.

And as a result, Black trades his central control for a solid defensive position that is hard to break up.

Main line

How To Reach It

The Main Line of the King's Indian Defence appears on the board after the following moves:

  1. d4 Nf6
  2. c4 g6
  3. Nc3 Bg7
  4. e4 d6

The variations of the King's Indian Defence

The Petrosian Variation can be a good surprise weapon for White against the King’s Indian Defense.

In this variation, White advances the d-pawn in order to stop Black from developing the Knight to the c6 square.

The idea for White is to push the b-pawn and launch an attack on the Black’s Queenside.

Black wants to stop this Queenside advance from White and break through on the Kingside.


In the Sämisch Variation of the King's Indian Defence, White wants to solidify his position and prevent Black from using an important g4-square.

He will try to castle queenside in order to attack on the kingside by advancing his pawns.

Black almost always castles Kingside and wants to undermine White centre.

This variation remains a popular variation in today's top events


The Four Pawns Attack of the King’s Indian Defense is the most aggressive variation for White to fight this opening.

With the move 5. f4, White creates a very dangerous pawn formation and wants to exert his central control.

On the other hand, Black has better development. If Black can open the position, White may find himself overextended.


How To Reach The King's Indian Defence?

  1. First, White must move the Queen’s pawn two squares (1.d4).
  2. Then, Black replies by moving his Knight two squares (1...Nf6).
  3. White responds by moving his c-pawn two squares (2. c4).
  4. Black moves his g-pawn one square (2...g6).

Take a look at the moves below:



Why Play The King's Indian Defence?

In the King’s Indian Defense, as in other hypermodern openings, the main idea for Black is to give up his central control and allow White to expand his control of the board while Black develops his minor pieces.

He allows that only in order to counterstrike at White’s gained space and weakened, overextended pawns.

And as a result, Black trades his central control for a solid defensive position that is hard to break up.


Every move explained

Petrosian Variation

How To Reach It

The Petrosian Variation of the King's Indian Defence appears on the board after the following moves:

  1. d4 Nf6
  2. c4 g6
  3. Nc3 Bg7
  4. e4 d6
  5. Nf3 0-0
  6. Be2 e5
  7. d5

You can see the moves here:

Why play the Petrosian Variation?

The Petrosian Variation can be a good surprise weapon for White against the King’s Indian Defense.

In this variation, White advances the d-pawn in order to stop Black from developing the Knight to the c6 square.

The idea for White is to push the b-pawn and launch an attack on the Black’s Queenside.

Black wants to stop this Queenside advance from White and break through on the Kingside.

White's Moves

Use dark squared bishop to pin Black’s Knight to the Queen

In the Petrosian Variation, Black wants to achieve the kingside attack (...f7–f5 break).

White wants to stop this plan. So his main idea is to bring the Bishop onto g4 and pin Black’s Knight to his King thus preventing Black from moving his f-pawn.

Play Nd2

By playing this move, White wants to close his position and meet Black’s kingside attack as well as prepare the h2-h4 breakthrough (even h4-h5!).

Black's moves

Push the a-pawn to delay White's Queenside advance

This is the most popular move for Black.

With the a7-a5 breakthrough, his idea is to dealy White's queenside advance.

Play Na6

By playing this move, he wants to prevent the b2-b4 break and put pressure on the e4-pawn by moving the the Knight onto c5.

Every move explained

Sämisch Variation

How To Reach It

The Sämisch Variation of the King's Indian Defence appears on the board after the following moves:

  1. d4 Nf6
  2. c4 g6
  3. Nc3 Bg7
  4. e4 d6
  5. f3

You can see the moves here:

Why play the Sämisch Variation?

In the Sämisch Variation of the King's Indian Defence, White wants to solidify his position and prevent Black from using an important g4-square.

He will try to castle queenside in order to attack on the kingside by advancing his pawns.

Black almost always castles Kingside and wants to undermine White centre.

White's Moves

Play Bg5 to prevent Black from playing 6...e5 (Steiner attack)

By bringing the Bishop to g5, White simply develops the bishop and prevents black from undermining the centre due to the pin.

If Black challenges the centre by playing 6...c5, White can advance his d-pawn, develop the queen in order to create a solid d5-g2 pawn chain which is hard to break up.

Castle Queenside to protect your King

In the Sämisch Variation, White always castles queenside to protect his King.

Black's moves

Attack the centre with a side pawn

By playing c5, Black wants to undermine White’s centre and leave the a1–h8 diagonal open for his fianchettoed bishop on g7.

If White takes the c5-pawn, Black will get a lead in development, with more pieces in play.

Castle Kingside to protect the King

Black should castle kingside to protect his King.

Four Pawns Attack

How To Reach It

The Four Pawns Attack of the King's Indian Defence appears on the board after the following moves:

  1. d4 Nf6
  2. c4 g6
  3. Nc3 Bg7
  4. e4 d6
  5. f4

You can see the moves here:

Why play the Four Pawns Attack?

With the move 5. f4, White creates a very dangerous pawn formation and wants to exert his central control.

On the other hand, Black has better development. If Black can open the position, White may find himself overextended.

White's Moves

Develop your King’s Knight (Nf3)

This is the most popular move for White.

He simply develops the knight to the most active square.

This move also allows White to control important squares (e5 and g5), protect the d4 pawn and support the future attack (e4-e5).

Play e5

With this move, White is preventing Black from playing e5. This square is very important for White.

Furthermore, he wants to disable the bishop on g7.

The advance can be crucial.

Black's moves

Castle Kingside to protect the King

Almost always in the Four Pawns Attack of the King's Indian Defence, Black castles kingside to protect his King.

Support the c7-c5 break by developing your Knight

With the move ...Na6, Black wants to support break c7-c5 (in order to undermine White’s overextended pawns )




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