King's Indian Defence: Fianchetto (A48) 2.Nf3 d6 3.g3
Indian: 2.Nf3 d6 3.g3 — King’s Indian Defence, Fianchetto (A48)
Definition
The sequence 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d6 3.g3 is classified in the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings (ECO) as A48 and is usually called the King’s Indian Defence, Fianchetto Variation. By playing 2.Nf3 White sidesteps the razor-sharp main lines of the King’s Indian and Grünfeld, while 3.g3 prepares a kingside fianchetto and a more positional struggle.
Usage in Practical Play
• White’s idea. Develop safely, keep flexibility in the centre (often with c4 or e4 later), and exert long-term pressure on the
light-squares with the bishop on g2.
• Black’s idea. Maintain the characteristic King’s Indian structure with …g6 and …Bg7, or switch to a Pirc/Old Indian-style set-up,
aiming for …e5 or …c5 breaks and counterplay on the dark squares.
Strategic Significance
- Positional rather than tactical. Compared with the classical King’s Indian (where White plays c4 and Nc3 early), the fianchetto line leads to slower manoeuvring games.
- Control of the long diagonal. The Bg2–b7 diagonal often becomes the battlefield; White’s fianchettoed bishop eyes Black’s queenside and the e4 square.
- Central tension postponed. By delaying c4 and Nc3, White keeps options open: a timely e4 can transpose back to main King’s Indian theory, while c4 may steer the game into Catalan-type structures.
- Piece play over pawn storms. Kingside pawn races are rare; instead, both sides manoeuvre knights and bishops to improve their pieces before pawn breaks occur.
Typical Plans
- For White
- Castle short quickly: Bg2, 0-0.
- Choose the central break: e4 (King’s Indian-style) or c4 (Catalan-style).
- Clamp down on the queenside with a3, b4 or play for d5 after c4.
- For Black
- Standard King’s Indian set-up: …g6, …Bg7, …0-0, …Nbd7, …e5.
- Old Indian/Pirc hybrid: …g6 may be delayed; …c5 becomes an attractive break.
- If White remains passive, Black can seize space with …e5-e4 or expansion on the kingside with …f5.
Illustrative Mini-Game
In this friendly training game Black followed a typical plan of …c6 and …d5, reaching a Semi-Slav-type pawn structure, while White’s double-fianchetto bishops gave enduring pressure on the long diagonals.
Historical & Notable Games
- Anand – Kramnik, Corus 1998. Anand used the Fianchetto system to neutralise Kramnik’s King’s Indian ambitions, eventually out-manoeuvring him in a bishop-vs-knight ending.
- Karpov – Beliavsky, Linares 1994. A classic illustration of White’s slow burn: Karpov expanded with c4 and d5, tied down Black’s pieces, and converted a space advantage.
- Carlsen – Aronian, Wijk aan Zee 2012. Carlsen played 1.Nf3 first, transposed to the same structure, and ground down Aronian in a 92-move endgame, showing the line’s potential for long, technical battles.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The variation resides in ECO codes A48–A49, collectively nicknamed “the London System of the Indian world” because of its solid yet flexible nature.
- Former World Champion Vladimir Kramnik adopted this line frequently in his later career to avoid computer-home-cooked King’s Indian main lines.
- Many English-opening players reach the position by move-order trickery: 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d6 3.d4, guaranteeing the favourable Fianchetto set-up while making it harder for Black to enter a Grünfeld.
- Because the early g3 discourages …e5 gambits, some books humorously call the variation the “G-train”—once the pawn reaches g3 it is hard for Black to derail White’s positional agenda.
Why Study This Line?
If you play 1.d4 and prefer under-the-radar systems where deep piece understanding trumps heavy theory, the Fianchetto King’s Indian is an excellent weapon. It is robust against surprise, rich in endgame chances, and retains practical chances to outplay even the strongest opponents.