King's Indian Defense

ECO E70, E61 · 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6

The King's Indian Defense, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6, lets White build a broad center and then counterattacks it. It is one of the most dynamic defenses in chess, made famous by Bronstein, Fischer and Kasparov.

Plans for White

White uses the space advantage: in the Classical lines with Nf3, Be2 and O-O, White usually closes the center with d5 and attacks on the queenside with c5 and b4. The Sämisch (f3), Four Pawns Attack (f4) and Averbakh (Be2, Bg5) are other major systems.

Plans for Black

Black castles kingside and strikes with ...e5 or ...c5. When the center closes, the classic plan is ...Nh5 or ...Ne8, ...f5, ...f4 and ...g5, a direct pawn storm against White's king.

Typical pawn structures

The closed KID structure with White's pawns on c4, d5 and e4 against Black's d6, e5 and f5 leads to races on opposite wings. Open variations with ...exd4 give Black pressure on the long diagonal.

Who it suits

Fighting players who want to play for a win with Black and enjoy kingside attacks and sharp races.

Common traps

In the Classical lines, a premature ...exd4 can surrender the center; a careless White player can be mated quickly once ...f4-f3 or ...g4 arrives. Watch the long diagonal tactics against b2 and the a1 rook.

Variations

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