Made in IndiaKing's Indian Defence
You play Black. It starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6.
The King's Indian Defence lets White build a big centre, then attacks it. Black fianchettoes the bishop on g7, castles, and strikes with ...e5 or ...c5. It is the choice of fighters: sharp attacks on opposite sides of the board.
The course is built from 1,43,596 games of the King's Indian Defence by strong players in Chess Castles' database: the lines below are the ones they really play, with the score Black made in each.
The first moves, one by one
- 1.d4 It takes a centre square (d4). It opens a line for the bishop on c1. It opens a line for the queen on d1.
- 1...Nf6 It develops the knight into the game. It controls the centre (e4, d5).
- 2.c4 It controls the centre (d5). It opens a line for the queen on d1.
- 2...g6
Classical (Nc3, e4, Nf3)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O
Move by move
- 3.Nc3 It develops the knight into the game. It controls the centre (e4, d5).
- 3...Bg7 It develops the bishop into the game. Fianchetto: the bishop aims along the long diagonal. Now castling is possible.
- 4.e4 It takes a centre square (e4). It opens a line for the queen on d1. It opens a line for the bishop on f1.
- 4...d6 It controls the centre (e5). It opens a line for the bishop on c8.
- 5.Nf3 It develops the knight into the game. It controls the centre (d4, e5).
- 5...O-O Castling puts the king in safety and brings the rook toward the centre.
Plans for Black
- In the Classical (Nc3, e4, Nf3, Be2) play ...e5; after d5 the centre is closed and you attack on the kingside with ...Ne8 (or ...Nd7), ...f5 and ...f4.
- White attacks on the queenside with c5: the race decides the game, so every tempo counts.
- Watch out: If the centre opens with dxe5, the d-file and the d5 square matter: do not leave d6 weak.
Sämisch (5.f3)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3
Move by move
- 3.Nc3 It develops the knight into the game. It controls the centre (e4, d5).
- 3...Bg7 It develops the bishop into the game. Fianchetto: the bishop aims along the long diagonal. Now castling is possible.
- 4.e4 It takes a centre square (e4). It opens a line for the queen on d1. It opens a line for the bishop on f1.
- 4...d6 It controls the centre (e5). It opens a line for the bishop on c8.
- 5.f3 It controls the centre (e4).
Plans for Black
- Against 5.f3 (the Sämisch) White often castles queenside and attacks with g4 and h4: strike back in the centre with ...c5 or ...e5.
- ...c6 and ...a6 with ...b5 open lines toward a king on the queenside.
Fianchetto (g3)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3
Move by move
- 3.Nf3 It develops the knight into the game. It controls the centre (d4, e5).
- 3...Bg7 It develops the bishop into the game. Fianchetto: the bishop aims along the long diagonal. Now castling is possible.
- 4.g3
Plans for Black
- Against the fianchetto (g3 and Bg2) the centre is quieter: play ...d6, ...Nbd7 and ...e5, or ...c6 and ...a6.
- The g7 bishop is your best piece: keep the long diagonal open.
Against the London (2.Bf4)
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6
Move by move
Plans for Black
- Against the London (Bf4 without c4) the same set-up works: ...g6, ...Bg7, ...d6, castle and ...e5 when it is safe.
- ...Nh5 can chase the f4 bishop, so White often plays h3 first.
Other replies
- The King's Indian set-up is the same against most moves: ...Nf6, ...g6, ...Bg7, ...d6 and castle.
- Choose your break by the centre: ...e5 against a big centre, ...c5 against a quiet one.
How each line scores
| Line | Moves | Games | Black scores |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.e4 · Normal Variation | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 | 64,354 | 43% |
| 4.Nc3 · Normal Variation, King's Knight Variation | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Nc3 | 13,836 | 44% |
| 4.g3 · Fianchetto Variation | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 | 8,198 | 40% |
| 3.g3 · Przepiorka Variation | 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3 | 5,803 | 46% |
| 3.g3 · Fianchetto Variation, Immediate Fianchetto | 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 | 5,414 | 40% |
| 3.Bf4 · London System | 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 | 3,650 | 51% |
| 3.Bg5 · Fianchetto Defense | 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bg5 | 3,017 | 51% |
The score counts a win as 1 and a draw as ½, from Black's side, in games between strong players.
On the board: the course (plans, model games, puzzles from real games of the opening), and the opening trainer, which drills the moves until you know them (a free account keeps your progress).
More openings: Caro-Kann Defence, Jobava London, Chebanenko Slav, Ruy Lopez, Italian Game, Queen's Gambit, London System, Sicilian Najdorf, French Defence, Queen's Gambit Declined.