King's Indian Defense
Give White the centre, then blow it up. The most uncompromising way to meet 1.d4.
| First moves | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 |
|---|---|
| ECO codes | E60-E99 |
| Character | Hypermodern, double-edged, attacking |
| Best for | Players who must win with Black and enjoy king-hunts |
Open any line on the analysis board, or play it out against a bot from where it ends.
Related openings
Nimzo-Indian Defense
The most respected defence to 1.d4 - Black pins the knight, fights for e4, and hands White doubled pawns to argue about for forty moves.
English Opening
A flank opening that fights for d5 from the side - and transposes into half the openings in chess.
Queen's Gambit
The most respected way to open with 1.d4, and the opening that gives its name to everything from the Slav to the Semi-Slav.
The hypermodern idea
Black does not occupy the centre - Black surrounds it. The g7-bishop rakes the long diagonal towards d4 and b2, the knights come to f6 and c6 or d7, and only then does Black strike with ...e5 or ...c5.
If White answers ...e5 with d4-d5, the centre locks. That is the moment the King's Indian becomes itself: pawns are fixed, both sides get a clear direction, and the game turns into a race.
The Mar del Plata race
After 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7, White attacks on the queenside with c4-c5, and Black attacks on the kingside with ...Ne8, ...f5, ...f4, ...g5, ...h5 and often a rook lift. Neither side defends. The winner is whoever gets there first, and the margin is regularly a single tempo.
This is the most exciting structure in mainstream opening theory and the reason the King's Indian has a cult following. It is also why some strong players avoid it as White entirely - one slow move on the queenside and the king is mated.
Practical warning: the King's Indian punishes hesitation more than any other opening. If you attack on the kingside with one eye on defending the queenside, you will simply be worse on both wings. Commit.
The other main tries
- Samisch (5.f3) - White builds a wall and often castles queenside to attack. Black hits back with ...c5 or the ...b5 gambit, or plays ...Nc6 and ...a6.
- Fianchetto (g3) - the quietest and statistically the most testing. White's bishop on g2 blunts the long diagonal and takes the sting out of Black's attack.
- Four Pawns Attack (5.f4) - the most aggressive. Black strikes immediately with ...c5 before White consolidates.
Frequently asked questions
Is the King's Indian Defense good for beginners?
The setup is easy to learn - the same six moves against almost anything - which makes it appealing. But the middlegames are extremely sharp and punish slow play. Many coaches suggest playing it for a while precisely because it teaches attacking technique, even if you lose games learning.
Is the King's Indian still sound?
At the very top level engines have made some Classical lines hard to hold, and it is less common in elite play than it was in the Kasparov era. Below that level it remains fully playable and scores well, because the positions are hard for both sides to navigate over the board.
What is the plan in the King's Indian?
Fianchetto, castle, play ...e5. If White locks with d5, transfer the pieces to the kingside, play ...f5-f4 and push the g- and h-pawns at the white king. If White does not lock the centre, break with ...exd4 or ...c5 and play for piece activity instead.