Bayonet Attack - King's Indian Defense
Bayonet Attack
Definition
The Bayonet Attack is a sharp, space-gaining plan for White in the King’s Indian Defense characterized by the thrust 9. b4 in the Classical Variation. It arises after the moves: 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. b4. The name “Bayonet” evokes a direct, stabbing advance on the queenside designed to fix Black’s pieces and blunt the traditional King’s Indian kingside attack.
How it arises and is used
The Bayonet Attack typically appears in the Classical King’s Indian after Black commits to ...Nc6 and ...Ne7 (aiming for ...f5). White’s move 9. b4 gains space, supports b5, and prepares for queenside play. While Black usually seeks a kingside pawn storm with ...f5, ...g5, and piece maneuvers toward White’s king, the Bayonet plan races ahead on the opposite flank, often forcing Black to divert resources with ...a5, ...Nd7, or ...Nh5.
The pawn structure is the hallmark: a closed center with white pawns on e4–d5 against black pawns on e5–d6. White aims to expand on the queenside with b4–b5, sometimes c5 or a4–a5, while Black strives for dynamic counterplay with ...f5 and breaks like ...c6 to attack White’s center.
Strategic ideas for White
- Queenside space: b4–b5 gains space and can clamp down on ...c6 and the c-file. Rb1, a4, and sometimes c5 are natural follow-ups.
- Piece placement: Knights often maneuver Nf3–d2–c4; the light-squared bishop may go to e3 or a3 to control c5 and d6; rooks support b-files and the a-file after exchanges (...a5 bxa5 Rxa5, then a4).
- Timing vs. ...f5: White should be ready to meet ...f5 with either exf5 or c5/a4 ideas; prophylaxis with Nd2–c4 and g3 is common to keep the kingside stable.
- Targets: The c7/c6 complex and Black’s queenside pieces can become targets; fixing the knight on c6 and limiting ...c6 is a recurring theme.
Strategic ideas for Black
- Immediate challenge with 9...a5: Strikes at b4 and opens the a-file; Black may recapture on a5 with the rook and later regroup with ...Nd7–f6 and ...f5.
- Kingside initiative: The classic King’s Indian plan ...f5, ...Nf6, ...h6, ...g5, and ...Ng6–f4 is still very much on the table. Black plays for mate or material gains on the kingside while accepting queenside pressure.
- Central breaks: ...c6 is a key resource to undermine d5; if it works tactically, it can liberate Black’s position.
- Piece maneuvers: ...Ne8–f5 ideas, ...Nh5 to hit f4/e3 squares, and timely exchanges of a rook on the a-file to reduce White’s space are thematic.
Move-order notes and pitfalls
- When it works best: The Bayonet is most thematic after ...Nc6 and ...Ne7. Against setups with ...Na6 or ...Nbd7, White can still play b4 but plans often require adjustment.
- Black’s immediate ...a5: After 9...a5 10. bxa5 Rxa5 11. a4, the a-file opens and Black must decide how to coordinate the rook on a5 with the kingside plan. Misplacing the rook can hand White tempi on the queenside.
- Overextension: For White, pushing b5 or c5 prematurely without enough support can let Black hit back with ...c6 or achieve ...f5 with tempo. For Black, launching ...f5 too soon can open lines to the king if the center breaks favorably for White.
Examples
Main path to the Bayonet Attack in the King’s Indian Defense (with the characteristic 9. b4 and a popular reply 9...a5). The arrows show both sides’ key ideas:
Other usage of the term: In the Modern Benoni, the ultra-aggressive line with f4 and Bb5+ is widely known as the “Flick-Knife Attack” (or Taimanov Attack), and in some sources it has also been nicknamed a “Bayonet” due to its spearhead character. Here’s the typical move order:
Historical notes and significance
The Bayonet Attack rose to prominence in the 1990s when elite players—most famously Vladimir Kramnik—used it consistently to test the soundness of the King’s Indian at the highest level. Its reputation as one of the most critical answers to the Classical King’s Indian contributed to periods when many top practitioners reduced their use of the opening with Black. Despite this, the variation remains double-edged and fully viable; modern engines continue to refine both sides’ resources.
Model plans at a glance
- White: Rb1, a4, Ba3 or Be3, Nd2–c4, c5 in favorable moments, and b5 to clamp queenside play.
- Black: ...a5 to challenge b4, ...f5 to open the kingside, ...c6 to hit d5, and flexible knight reroutes (...Ne8–f6 or ...Nd7–f6) to support the attack.
Interesting facts
- Name origin: “Bayonet” reflects the direct spearhead of the b-pawn, often dictating the course of the middlegame from move 9 onward.
- Theoretical magnet: The Bayonet’s theory is vast; both sides must know typical ideas more than concrete forced lines, as structures are highly instructive for closed-center strategy.
- Cross-opening nickname: The Modern Benoni’s Flick-Knife Attack is occasionally dubbed a “Bayonet” in commentary, highlighting the common theme of a forceful pawn thrust that seizes the initiative.