Opening Overview

King's Indian Defense

119 lines
black repertoire

About This Opening

King's Indian Defense is a flexible, hypermodern opening that delays direct central occupation and instead pressures the center from the wings.

The opening usually invites White to occupy space, then challenges that center with piece pressure, pawn breaks, and flexible development.

In practice, the key is to know when to strike at the center and when to keep pieces flexible, because the wrong timing can leave the position passive.

Key ideas
  • Typical theme: pressure on the center rather than immediate occupation.
  • Common plans include fianchetto setups and timely pawn breaks.
  • Best for players who like asymmetry and counterplay.
  • Study the transition from setup to active central challenge.

Choose a variation

King's Indian Defense: Accelerated Averbakh Variation
E70 9 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bg5
King's Indian Defense: Kramer Variation
E70 9 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nge2
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation
E70 7 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation
E70 8 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6
King's Indian Defense: Karpov System
E71 11 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Be3
King's Indian Defense: Makogonov Variation
E71 9 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Deferred Fianchetto
E72 9 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. g3
King's Indian Defense: Pomar System
E72 13 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 e5 7. Nge2
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation
E73 11 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Flexible Defense
E73 12 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 h6
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Geller Defense
E73 12 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 Nbd7
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Modern Defense
E73 12 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 Na6
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