King's Indian Defense

Play as BlackDefence

Fianchetto and castle quickly, then launch a kingside pawn storm.

The main line, move by move

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 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Be3 f5

1. 1. d4 — Claim the center with the queen pawn and open lines for the queen and bishop.
2. 1... Nf6 — Develop a knight and control e4.
3. 2. c4 — White gains more space in the center.
4. 2... g6 — Prepare a kingside fianchetto.
5. 3. Nc3 — White develops a knight.
6. 3... Bg7 — Fianchetto the bishop to pressure the center.
7. 4. e4 — Build a big center.
8. 4... d6 — Support e5 and free the c8 bishop.
9. 5. Nf3 — Develop the knight toward the center.
10. 5... O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
11. 6. Be2 — Develop and get ready to castle.
12. 6... e5 — Strike at the center.
13. 7. O-O — Castle: your king gets safe and a rook joins the game.
14. 7... Nc6 — Brings the knight into the game.
15. 8. d5 — Gain space and close the center.
16. 8... Ne7 — Reroute the knight toward the kingside.
17. 9. Ne1 — Make room for the f-pawn.
18. 9... Nd7 — Prepare to play ...f5.
19. 10. Be3 — Develop the bishop and support the center.
20. 10... f5 — Start the kingside pawn storm.

Other sound lines

• 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Nh5 8. Qd2 f5 9. O-O-O Na6

Related openings

• Sicilian Defense (Najdorf)
• French Defense
• Caro-Kann Defense
• Scandinavian Defense
• Pirc Defense

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