Openings · 2 min read
The King's Indian Defence: give up the centre, then attack
In the King's Indian Defence, Black lets White build a big pawn centre, puts the bishop on g7, castles, then strikes with ...e5 or ...c5.
In the main lines the centre locks and both sides attack: White on the queenside, Black on the kingside.
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O
The King's Indian main position. Black has castled behind the bishop on g7 and will strike with ...e5.
The Mar del Plata race
After 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 the centre is locked. White breaks with c5 and b4. Black moves the f6-knight, then pushes ...f5, ...f4 and ...g5 at the king.
Count the moves each attack needs, then commit.
White's other systems
- Fianchetto (g3): solid, blunting Black's kingside play.
- Sämisch (f3): a strong centre, often with queenside castling.
- Four Pawns Attack (f4): the most space, met by a quick ...c5.
Key takeaways
- In a locked centre, attack on the side your pawns point to.
- One setup meets 1.d4, 1.c4 and 1.Nf3.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the King's Indian Defence sound?
- Yes. The King's Indian Defence is respected at every level. Some main lines are hard for Black in theory, but the plans are clear and suit players who like to attack.
- What should I learn first in the King's Indian?
- The ...e5 break and the Mar del Plata plans that follow it, with White pushing on the queenside and Black attacking the king with ...f5.
Practise the related tactics
The ideas behind this
- Hypermodern OpeningsLet the opponent build a big centre, then attack it.
- Pawn ChainsPawns on a diagonal, each defending the one in front.
- Space AdvantageMore room behind your pawns, so your pieces move freely.