Chess Openings - King's Indian Defense

King's Indian Defense

The King's Indian Defense is a hypermodern answer to d4. Black allows White to build a broad center and attacks it from the side, using the g7-bishop and the pawn breaks ... e5 or ... c5.

This article does not cover the full theory of the opening, but presents a streamlined system: a fixed setup that Black can reach against almost every White approach, with adjustments only where White's setup demands them.

This is the target position. The specific White moves will change from game to game, but Black's own moves stay almost the same:

• ... ♞f6, ... g6, ... ♝g7, and ... O-O form the basic King's Indian structure;
• ... d6 and ... ♞bd7 both support the e5 square, so the central break is well prepared;
• ... e5 challenges the d4-pawn and fights for the dark squares;
• ... c6 is the usual support move. It controls d5, gives the queen the b6 and c7 squares, and keeps the position flexible.

The move order is important. After 1. d4 ♞f6 2. c4 g6 3. ♘c3, the move 3... d5 would lead to the Grünfeld Defense, which is more concrete and depends far more on memorized lines. Playing ... ♝g7 first and ... d6 next keeps Black in King's Indian territory.

Many of the lines below can also arise through other move orders. For example, White can start with 2. ♘f3 and play c4 later, and the position usually transposes.

Against the London

The London is the most comfortable opponent for this system, because the structure is the one from the London article (here): bishop on f4, pawns on d4 and e3, and the knight on f3.

The pawn on e5 attacks both the d4-pawn and the bishop on f4, so White has to decide immediately. The h3 move is a common preparation, because it gives the bishop the h2 retreat, as discussed in the London article.

After the exchange on d4, Black has an open e-file for the rook and the g7-bishop presses on the d4-pawn. White's bishop on h2 is safe, but it is no longer the active piece it was on f4. Black can continue with a knight maneuver such as ... ♞b6 or ... ♞f8 and ... ♞e6.

White can also release the tension with dxe5. After 8. dxe5 dxe5 the bishop is attacked again, and 9. ♗xe5? fails to 9... ♞xe5 10. ♘xe5 ♝xe5, leaving White a piece down for a pawn. After 9. ♗g3 e4, Black gains a further tempo against the f3-knight.

The general lesson is that the London bishop has few good squares against this setup. White has spent a tempo on ♗f4, and ... e5 makes that tempo a liability.

Colle and Torre

The Colle and the Torre are the other two quiet White systems. Both aim for a compact structure without c4, and neither prevents Black from occupying the center.

Against the Colle, White plays e3, ♗d3, castles, and aims for c3 and e4:

White has to choose between dxe5 and preparing e4. Either way, Black has taken the central space that White's quiet setup left available, and can continue with ... ♜e8 and ... c6.

Against the Torre, White develops the bishop to g5 before playing e3:

The bishop on g5 is aimed at the f6-knight, so White can capture on f6 before or after the central tension is resolved. The move ... h6 is available at almost any moment to ask the bishop a question. As in the Colle, the plan is unchanged.

Classical variation

From here on, White plays c4 and the theory becomes heavier. The Classical is White's most natural reaction: full center, natural development, and castling on the kingside. Black follows the plan without any changes.

After the center is opened or closed, the plan depends on White's choice:

• if White plays dxe5, the position becomes symmetrical, and Black completes development with ... ♛e7 and ... ♜e8, then improves the knights toward c5 or f8;
• if White closes the center with d5, Black places a knight on c5, prepares ... ♞fd7, and follows with the typical kingside break ... f5;
• if White holds the tension with ♖e1 and ♗f1, Black keeps the e5-pawn supported and waits for the right moment for ... exd4.

The Classical is the section in which the fixed plan is most convenient: the same moves are played in nearly every line, and only the timing changes.

Sämisch variation

The Sämisch is the first setup in which the fixed move order needs adjusting. White supports the e4-pawn with f3, develops the bishop to e3, and frequently prepares ♕d2 and long castling, often followed by a kingside pawn storm.

Black therefore plays ... e5 immediately. White then has two main ways to reply. The first is to keep the tension and develop:

This is the same setup as before, with ... c6 and ... ♞bd7 completed. The difference is White's king. If White castles long, both sides may attack on opposite wings, and the game becomes a race. If White castles short, the position is more strategic, and Black can use ... exd4 and the queenside pawns to create counterplay.

The second reply is to close the center at once:

After d5, Black moves the knight to h5 to prepare ... f5. This is the characteristic King's Indian pawn break, and it requires accurate move-order knowledge, because both sides have sharp tactical options on the kingside. This line is the one that needs the most preparation in the Sämisch.

Fianchetto variation

Against the fianchetto, White delays the central advance and places the bishop on g2. This is one of the calmer ways to meet the King's Indian, and the fixed setup works well against it.

The queen move to b6 pressures both b2 and d4, and it is possible because ... c6 has cleared the diagonal. When White plays e4, Black can also open the center with ... exd4 instead of supporting the pawn chain.

The setup is easy to play because White has not yet committed to a large center. The main danger is passivity: Black should use ... e5 and ... c6 actively rather than waiting for White to complete development.

Four Pawns and Averbakh

Two White setups require a real change of plan, and they need dedicated preparation.

The Four Pawns Attack starts with f4:

The pawn on f4 controls e5, so the usual ... e5 plan is no longer practical. Black strikes at the center from the other side with ... c5.

The Averbakh variation begins with an early bishop move to g5:

The bishop on g5 pins the knight on f6 against the queen and changes the tactical situation, so the automatic ... ♞bd7 and ... e5 sequence should not be played without thought. Typical Black reactions include ... h6, ... c5, and ... ♞a6, depending on White's follow-up.

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