King's Indian Defence: moves, ideas and plans

Let White build a centre, then attack it and the white king. A favourite of attacking players.

E97Play it as BlackAdvanced16 moves

Main line: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7

Key ideas

• Fianchetto the bishop on g7 and castle quickly.
• ...e5 strikes at White's centre.
• When the centre closes, Black attacks on the kingside with ...f5.

The King's Indian Defence move by move

Every move of the main line, with the reason it is played. The final position is recognised in the opening database as E97 King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Aronin-Taimanov Defense.

1. 1. d4Centre.
2. 1… Nf6Flexible: Black does not commit a pawn yet.
3. 2. c4More space.
4. 2… g6Prepares the fianchetto.
5. 3. Nc3White aims for e4.
6. 3… Bg7The King's Indian bishop on the long diagonal.
7. 4. e4White builds a big centre, just as Black invited.
8. 4… d6Controls e5 and prepares ...e5.
9. 5. Nf3Development.
10. 5… O-OBlack castles before striking.
11. 6. Be2The Classical Variation.
12. 6… e5The key break against d4.
13. 7. O-OWhite castles.
14. 7… Nc6More pressure on d4.
15. 8. d5White closes the centre and gains space on the queenside.
16. 8… Ne7The knight heads for the kingside; ...f5 follows. The Mar del Plata.

More openings for Black