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Kings Indian Defense - Your
Learn & Ace in the Hole
Play

Rules The Kings

Indian
Strategy Defense
represents
ECO a
Play completely
new
scheme in
dealing
Advanced with 1.d4.
Strategy Unlike the
Semi-Slav
there is no
Endgame attempt
made to
Kings Indian Defense : 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6
Key Positions prevent
2.e4. You
Material Face are quite
Offs happy to allow White to build a big center.

Themes You challenge for control of e4 in the QGD, the Slav and
Semi-Slav Defenses but not here. Now instead of
grinding your way towards equality you will fight
Middlegame violently for the initiative.

Positional Starting with the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6, you will do
this by targeting White's big center. You will play to get
Tactics your e and f-pawns rolling towards White's Kingside in a
winner takes all strategy. These along with your powerful
Motifs dark square Bishop are some of your main weapons in
Openings the opening. White has many continuations on move 3.
The main one is 3.Nc3 leading to the Classical KID.

Sicilian
Defense

Closed Fianchetto the Bishop and Prioritize

Open (2...Nc6) Piece Play
Open (2...d6)
Open (2...e6)
3.Nc3 Bg7
makes the
Ruy Lopez game a
King's
Morphy Indian.
4.e4 d6
Defense takes you
Main Line to the Main
Starting
Alternatives to Position of
the KID.
MD
There is
one
significant
KPG ramp
Kings Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation
taking you - 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 d6 5.g3
1.e4 off the
Main Line
at this point. You have another choice with the White
QGD pieces. You can play 4.Nf3 leaving the e-pawn on it's
starting block.

w/o 3...Nf6
This move also rules out the possibility of f4 for some
with 3...Nf6
times and signals another game plan. Instead of
expanding with a big center you will meet 4...d6 with
5.g3. This is the Fianchetto Variation.
The Slavs

Slav Defense Your strategy is to get a powerful g2-Bishop searing into

Black's Queenside. With the e-pawn staying on the
Semi-Slav second rank the Bishop's power will be felt via x-ray all
the way to a8. You're also prioritizing piece development
 Indian over spatial expansion. Black will not have targets on e4
and f4.
Systems

King's Indian
Other Indians
School Your Foes in the Panno Variation

QPG

1.d4 The Panno

Variation is
one of the
Flank most
important
Openings lines in the
Fianchetto
English complex.
Opening After
5...0-0
Other Flanks 6.Bg2 Nc6
7.O-O you
Irregular play 7...a6
with the
Black
Kings Indian Defense: Panno Variation -
Gambits 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 d6 5.g3 pieces. This
O-O 6.Bg2 Nc6 7.O-O a6 move along
As & Bs with
8...Rb8 preps 9...b5 and an assault on the Queenside.

The only critical move White can play here is 8.d5,

Masters challenging the c6-Knight. Any other move would just
allow you to get on with your Queenside attack
Early Greats unhindered.
Gifted Artists Your best reply has to be 8...Na5 attacking White's
Official vulnerable c4-pawn. After 9.Nd2 to hold this pawn you
can play 9...c5, securing the a5-Knight by preventing b4.
Champions After 10.Qc2 Rb8 11.b3 you are all set to get in 11...b5
and set your Queenside in full flight.

Historical White will then play 11.Bb2 and the game has reached
the main starting point of the Panno Variation. Here
History many deeply analyzed lines begin with tactical and
strategic ideas in the mix.
Variants

Interactive
Welcome to KID Central
Invitation
Blog

4.e4 d6
Newsletter takes the
game to
the Main
Lapoc Chess Starting
Board Position of
the King's
Indian
Utilities Defense.
Several
heavily
About Us analyzed
variations
Contact Us
spring out
Sitemap from here.
Kings Indian Defense: Classical Variation -
The game 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6
can go in a
number of
directions.
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5.Nf3 is the most common move and the game follows

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the path of the Classical KID. The Exchange, Orthodox,
Petrosian or Gligoric are all possibilities in this complex.
Name These lines contain the bulk of KID but White has other
options on move 5.
Then
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Don't worry -- your e-mail The Makagonov, the Samisch, the Four Pawns Attack and
address is totally secure. the Averbakh are great weapons for your tool kit in the
I promise to use it only to KID. These lines show how you can take this opening in
send you Lapoc Chess all kinds of directions.
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The
Classical
Variation is
reached by
the moves
5.Nf3 0-0
6.Be2 e5.
Now you
Share This Page reach a
crossroads
Like Share 1
with White.
By playing
Tweet Share 6...e5
0 Follow Black has
LAPOC injected
On Kings Indian Defense: Classical Variation -
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 tension into
0-0 6.Be2 e5 the
position.
From here both players will decide with every move
whether to maintain this tension or relieve it.

With either color you can maintain by declining to

capture. Instead you will continue to mount the pressure
by building up your position. Just continue to develop.
Sooner or later someone will dissipate the tension by
capturing or perhaps White will play the advance d5.

There are four main options on move 7. You can simply

castle in the Orthodox Variation. You can play the d5
advance in the Petrosian System. You can take on e5 in
the Exchange Variation. Finally you can support d4 with
Bd3 in the Gligoric System.

Bide Your Time in the Orthodox

The
Orthodox is
a flexible
move for
White in
this
position. All
of your
ideas are
still in
reserve and
you can
make Black
choose a
course of
Kings Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation -
action 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3
before O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O
committing
to any particular pawn structure.

Black will usually play 7...Nc6 here though 7...Nbd7,

7...Na6 and 7...dxe4 have been tried. After 7...Nc6 your
Main line will be 8.d5 closing the center and kicking the
Knight back to e7. Then the maneuvering starts with
Black advancing his Kingside pawns and you will do the
same on the Queenside.

7...Nbd7, 7...Na6 and 7...dxe4 see a mixture of d5 and

dxe5 where two very different types of games emerge.
The Advance games see much maneuvering behind the
pawns while the Exchange games see things get much
sharper.

Go Blow for Blow in the Petrosian

System
 The
Petrosian
System
seems less
violent but
it can give
White an
ongoing
initiative.
Now you
have the
natural
plan of
attacking
Black's
Kings Indian Defense: Petrosian System -
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 pawn chain
O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.d5 with c5.

Black can respond with 7...Ne8 with the thinly veiled

threat of ...f5 striking at e4. It is now that the Petrosian
shows it's great flexibility. You have not yet castled and
you have resources to attack on the Kingside. 8.h4
daring Black to open the Kingside will give him
something to think about.

Sometimes Black will try 7...Nh5 instead with ideas

of ...Nf4. A simple 8.g3 rules this out along with 8...f5
because of 9.exf5 gxf5 10.Nxe5! with a discovered
attack on the hanging h5-Knight.

These problems led Black to find a different approach.

The Main Starting Position these days is reached by
7...a5 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 Na6 10.Nd2 Qc8. Now Black can
tuck his Knight away on h7 and go ahead with the ...f5
plan with none of the previous problems.

Exchange Variation Can Be Solid or

Dicey
The
Exchange
Variation
continues
7...dxe5
8.Qxd8
Rxd8 9.Bg5
where
White can
get a lead
in

Kings Indian Defense: Exchange Variation -

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3
O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.dxe5

development and start asking questions. Black has a

choice. He can play 9...Re8 knowing that after 10.Nd5
Nxd5 11.cxd5 he has given you only a small edge to try
to turn into a win.

This would be a tall order and for a long time 9...Re8

was the main move for just that reason. Another move
came to light in the last 30 years.

The move is 9...c6. It gives Black control of d5 and he

play for control of the d-file and maybe utilize the
outpost on d4. Play becomes tactical and unpredictable
when the game goes down this road. Black is taking
advantage of White's only real weakness in this line,
namely the aforementioned hole on d4.

Gligoric System for Maximum Flexibility

The main
attraction
 of the
Gligoric
System is
that it's the
ultimate in
flexibility.
Even
moreso
than the
Orthodox
Variation.
Not only
can you
still go with
d5 or dxe5
Kings Indian Defense: Gligoric System -
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 but after
7.Be3 you O-Ohaven't committed
6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 your King to either wing.

You're forcing Black to commit to a plan before revealing

your setup. If he plays 7...Nc6, great, hit him with 8.d5
and after 8...Ne7 you can play 9.Nd2 with no regrets.
You now have a superior version to the equivalent
Orthodox line as now your dark square Bishop is on e3,
not blocked in on c1.

You never get an inferior version of an Orthodox,

Petrosian or Exchange line by playing 7.Bd3 and
sometimes you get a better position. That's why many
players like the Gligoric.

Makagonov System for Versatility

Against the KID

White
doesn't
have to
play the
KID with
5.Nf3.
Several
other
systems
are
available
with similar
flavors.
Just subtle
little twists
on the Kings Indian Defense: Makagonov System -
same 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3
ideas. The
Makagonov System starts with 5.h3.

This little move does a couple of things. For starters

you're taking control of g4. This makes e3 a more
comfortable spot for your dark square Bishop who will
want to stop there in some lines. This Bishop goes to g5
too but it's not unusual at all to post him on e3.

5.h3 also preps a possible g4 advance. This motif is

always an option against the KID. You can castle on the
Queenside sometimes and get a pawn storm firing
forward with their officers supporting from behind.

Attack on Either Wing in the Samisch

Variation

The
Samisch
used to be
the Main
Line
against the
KID. 5.Nf3
 only
overtook it
in the last
20 years. It
gives you
as White
some of
the same
Kings Indian Defense: Samisch Variation -
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 plusses as
the
Makagonov
in that it controls g4. It, like 5.h3, is also a possible
precursor for a Kingside attack.

It's more flexible than the Makagonov in that you're not

committed to action on either wing. You can develop
your pieces in relative comfort before castling on either
wing. 5.f3 also gives solid support to your center.

The only real gripe to be had against the Samisch is that

it's a little slow. 5.f3 does not develop a piece. Worse
again it takes f3 away from the Knight.

This piece must wait for the Bishop to leave home before
he can take up residence on the humble e2 post. It is
largely this factor that has seen the Samisch slip, albeit
slightly, from the top of the list.

Annex the Center in the Four Pawns

Attack

The KID is
a
 Kings Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack -
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4
Hypermodern opening. Black is offering White space,
daring him to take it. All the while he prepares his forces
to crouch like a tiger ready to spring when White has
given him targets to attack in the center.

The Father of Hypermodern Chess, Aron Nimzowitsch

called these solid cramped set-ups frog positions. He was
likening the explosion of the hypermodern pieces into
the game during and after the destruction of the center
to a frog leaping through the force generated by his hind
legs.

The KID is just such a frog position. With the Four Pawns
Attack you take Black's challenge on to the fullest
extent. You take all of the available space there is.

Black must now attack your big center to avoid being

overwhelmed. After 5...0-0 6.Nf3 he will do this either by
6...c5 or 6...e5. 6...c5 is probably the sterner test of the
two.

Pin Black Down in the Averbakh

The
Averbakh
Variation
starts with
5.Bg5. You
put Black in
an
 annoying
pin while
maintaining
all of your
options.
You can
follow up
this move
Kings Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation -
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 by
O-O 6.Bg5 advancing
your
Kingside with g4 and h4. You should be just about ready
to castle Queenside if you want to run with this.

On the other hand you can simply play Nf3 and after
Bd3, castle Kingside. You are then able to begin
operations on the Queenside. Even now your Queen and
dark square Bishop can work together on the c1-h6
diagonal.

Exchanging dark square Bishops is always a threat.

Often Black may be provoked into loosening his Kingside
with a timely ...h6 to prevent this. Your Bishop can drop
back to a useful post on e3 if need be.

If you meet this system as Black your chief concern is

deciding what to do about this Bishop. You may
play ...h6 to chase it or concentrate first on ...c5. This
central break should be prepped by 6...Nbd7 or 6...Na6.

Moving On

The Kings
Indian
Defense
may be
just the
opening to
refresh
your game.
During it's
emergence
in the
1920s to
it's Golden
Age in the
1950s right
through to
Queen's Indian Defense: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6
it's still 3.Nf3 b6
high
standing in modern chess, new motifs and ideas to play
chess have been found and continuously improved.

Take a look at some of the great KID games. Grab a

primer in the basics of the King's Indian. Decide whether
you want to investigate further.

Of course the Indian family is a big one with plenty more

systems. You have the Queen's Indian, the Nimzo-
Indian, the Bogo-Indian, the Old Indian and the Grunfeld
Defense also qualifies as an Indian opening.

Home > King's Indian Defense

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