French KIA and Reversed Philidor - chess term

French: KIA (French Defence – King’s Indian Attack)

Definition

The term “French: KIA” describes any line of the French Defence (1. e4 e6) in which White steers the game into a King’s Indian Attack (KIA) set-up instead of the classical French main lines. Typical move orders are:

1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Ngf3 Be7 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. Re1 …

Here White’s pawns sit on d3 & e4 rather than the usual d4 & e5, and the pieces head for the classic KIA squares: Nf3, Nbd2, g3, Bg2, Re1, and often Nf1–g3 followed by a kingside pawn storm.

Strategic Ideas

• Flexibility. By delaying an early d4, White keeps the centre fluid and can choose between an eventual d4 break or a direct kingside attack with f4–f5.
• Kingside Initiative. After typical manoeuvres (Nf1–g3, h4–h5, f4) White builds pressure against Black’s king, sometimes sacrificing a pawn to rip open the g- or h-files.
• Black’s Counterplay. The usual antidote is queenside expansion: …c5, …Nc6, …b6 and …Ba6, or exchanging in the centre with …dxe4 followed by …b5 and …c4 to gain space on the queenside.

Why Players Choose It

• Theory-light. Compared with the massive body of French main-line theory, the KIA requires far less memorisation.
• Universal System. The same KIA structure can be played against the Sicilian (Closed Sicilian/KIA), the Caro–Kann, or even 1…e5 via a transposition, giving an entire repertoire built around one middlegame plan.
• Surprise Value. French specialists who have booked up on the Winawer or the Tarrasch may feel less comfortable in the quieter KIA waters.

Historical Notes

The KIA vs. the French was popularised by Bobby Fischer in the 1960s. In his own words, “I play the King’s Indian Defence with Black—why shouldn’t I play the same thing with an extra tempo as White?” Fischer scored several sparkling wins and virtually abandoned the sharp main lines of the French for this system.

Illustrative Games

1. Fischer – Myagmarsuren, Sousse Interzonal 1967. A textbook Nf1–g3–h4–h5–Ng5 attack that crashed through on h7.
2. Karpov – Uhlmann, Nice Olympiad 1974. Karpov showed the positional side of the KIA, squeezing the life out of Black’s queenside before opening the centre with d4.

Visualising the typical tabiya:

Interesting Facts

• The ECO code often given is C00, because the KIA usually arises from the French Advance but is classified under “French, Various.”
• Black can mirror White’s set-up with a “KIA vs. KIA,” leading to highly original middlegames rarely found in other openings.
• In the 21st century, grandmasters such as Sergey Karjakin and Vladimir Kramnik have revived the line, especially in rapid and blitz where its strategic clarity is a bonus.

Reversed Philidor

Definition

The “Reversed Philidor” is not a single, fixed opening but a pawn structure or formation in which White adopts the set-up of Black’s Philidor Defence with an extra tempo. In the classical Philidor, Black plays …d6 and …e5 behind a solid but somewhat passive wall. In the reversed version White places pawns on d3 & e4, usually supports them with Nf3 & Nbd2, and decides whether or not to push f4 or d4.

Typical entry points include:

• English Opening: 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 d6 leading to Philidor-style positions once White plays d3 & e4.
• Réti/King’s Fianchetto: 1. Nf3 d6 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e5 4. d3 Be7 5. e4.
• Lion-type set-ups by Black where White mirrors with colours reversed.

Key Strategic Themes

• Extra Tempo. Because the colours are reversed, White enjoys an extra move compared with the original Philidor, offsetting the formation’s traditional passivity.
• Central Flexibility. White can keep a small centre (d3/e4) or later expand with d4 or f4, choosing the moment based on Black’s set-up.
• Piece Play. Bishops often head to g2 & c4, knights to f3 & d2/f1, and rooks to e1 & d1, echoing the optimal squares recommended to Black in the Philidor but gained more quickly.
• Black’s Plans. Counterplay usually involves …c6 & …d5 to challenge the centre, or a kingside pawn storm with …f5 mirroring White’s possible f4 advance.

Illustrative Example

A common tabiya obtained via the English:

After these 15 moves White’s spear-head of pawns on d3 & e4 is identical to Black’s orthodox Philidor, except that it is White who retains the initiative.

Historical & Practical Significance

• GM Adoption. Anatoly Karpov, Michael Adams, and Peter Svidler have all used the Reversed Philidor to avoid heavy main-line theory while keeping a solid yet dynamic position.
• Transpositional Weapon. Because the formation can arise from the English, Réti, or even certain Sicilians and Pirc defences, it is a favourite of players who like to dictate structures rather than memorise concrete variations.
• Theoretical Status. Opening manuals generally classify Reversed Philidor positions under A10–A11 (English Opening) or A07–A09 (Réti) rather than giving them a dedicated code, emphasising that structure, not specific move order, is key.

Notable Games

1. Karpov – Andersson, Milan 1975. Karpov exploited the extra tempo to seize the centre with d4 at the perfect moment, transforming a quiet start into a winning rook endgame.
2. Adams – Kramnik, Dortmund 1998. White’s slow kingside build-up (h3, Nh2, f4) demonstrated how the Reversed Philidor can switch gears into a sharp attack once the pieces reach optimal squares.

Interesting Facts

• The structure is sometimes nicknamed the “Extra-Tempo Philidor,” underscoring White’s greatest asset.
• In the middlegame, the plans for both sides mirror each other so closely that experienced Philidor players with Black often feel at home playing the structure with White!
• The Reversed Philidor can also arise from the Falkbeer Counter-Gambit to the King’s Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. f4 d5), once colours are flipped by transposition.