French Defence: KIA 2.d3 d5 3.Qe2 Nf6

French Defence: King's Indian Attack, 2.d3 d5 3.Qe2 Nf6

Definition

The line 1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Qe2 Nf6 is a branch of the King’s Indian Attack (KIA) employed against the French Defence. White deliberately postpones the usual 2. d4 advance, instead placing the pawn on d3, tucking the queen on e2, and later developing the knight to f3 and bishop to g2. The set-up resembles the King’s Indian Defence played with reversed colours, hence the name “King’s Indian Attack.”

Typical Move Order

The most common sequence reaches the diagrammed position after three moves:

The next few moves often continue 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O leading to a rich middlegame.

Strategic Ideas

• Flexible Pawn Structure: By withholding d4, White waits to see how Black places his pieces before striking in the centre with e4–e5, d3–d4 or sometimes c2–c4.
• King-side Expansion: The bishop on g2, knight on f3, and pawn storm with h4–h5 or sometimes f4–f5 can generate an attacking wave against the Black king.
• Reduced Theory: Because the KIA avoids the heavily analysed main lines of the French (e.g., the Winawer, Classical, Tarrasch), it appeals to players who prefer plans over memorisation.
• Black’s Counterplay: In return for a freer centre, Black gains space on the queen side with …c5, …Nc6, and sometimes …b5, aiming to prove that White’s set-up is too passive.

Historical & Practical Significance

The KIA versus the French became fashionable in the 1960s when American grandmasters Bobby Fischer and William Lombardy adopted it to sidestep well-trodden theoretical paths. Fischer famously declared that the KIA was “nearly always good enough to win,” though modern engines show that Black can equalise with accurate play.

Famous Examples

• Fischer – Myagmarsuren, Sousse Interzonal 1967
  Fischer deployed the KIA structure (although via 2.Nf3), broke with 14.e5! and scored a crushing king-side attack—an instructive model for the entire system.
• Karpov – Hort, Moscow 1971
  Karpov calmly restricted Black’s queen-side play, then infiltrated with the classic Nd2–f1–g3 manoeuvre followed by f2–f4, demonstrating strategic mastery of the set-up.

Key Plans & Motifs

1. Nd2–f1–g3 rerouting to reinforce e4–e5 or f2–f4.
2. Pawn storm h2–h4–h5, especially if Black castles short and plays …h6 too early.
3. Central break d3–d4 after Black commits to …c5 and …Nc6, opening the long diagonal for Bg2.
4. Delayed castling by White, keeping the king in the centre while Black’s intentions are clarified.

Interesting Facts

• Bobby Fischer scored 80 %+ with the KIA in tournament games, yet rarely faced it with the Black pieces.
• In modern online play, the line is common in rapid and blitz because it avoids preparation—a favourite weapon of streamers and content creators.
• Although classified under ECO code C00, databases sometimes label it “A07” because the same structure can arise from 1.Nf3 followed by 2.g3 and 3.Bg2.

Model Game to Study

The following miniature shows the thematic break e4–e5 and a swift attack:

White’s 15.e5! locked the knight on f6, and the later exchange sacrifice Rxe7 broke Black’s king position apart.

When to Choose This Line

Select the KIA versus the French when you:

• Prefer plans and strategic themes to heavy opening theory.
• Enjoy closed or semi-closed structures with slow burns that erupt into king-side attacks.
• Want a universal system you can deploy against multiple Black set-ups (French, Caro-Kann, Sicilian with …e6).

Further Study

Investigate annotated collections such as John Emms’ “The King’s Indian Attack … Move by Move” and review modern grandmaster games—especially those by Ian Nepomniachtchi and Hikaru Nakamura—who occasionally revive the system in rapid events.