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: Averbakh Variation, Modern Defense, Burgess Line
E73 14 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 Na6 7. Qd2 c6
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Nc6 Defense
E73 12 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 Nc6
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Spanish Defense
E73 12 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 a6
King's Indian Defense: Normal Variation, Standard Development
E73 9 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2
King's Indian Defense: Semi-Averbakh System
E73 11 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Be3
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense
E74 12 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Advance Variation
E74 13 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Exchange Variation
E74 13 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. dxc5
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Main Line
E75 14 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 e6
King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack
E76 9 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4
King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Dynamic Attack
E76 13 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. d5
King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack, Modern Defense
E76 10 plies
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 Na6
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