King's Indian Defense: Delayed Fianchetto
King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Delayed Fianchetto
Definition
The Delayed Fianchetto Variation of the King’s Indian Defense (ECO codes E60-E62) is reached after the moves
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3
White intends the typical “fianchetto set-up” (Bg2, 0-0, Nc3, etc.), but postpones the pawn move g2-g3 by one tempo. This seemingly modest nuance keeps Black guessing for a move and eliminates some of Black’s sideline possibilities, most notably …Bb4+.
Typical Move-Order Tricks
- Avoiding …Bb4+: After 3.g3 (the immediate Fianchetto) Black can play 3…Bb4+ and steer the game into a Bogo-Indian–flavored position. By inserting 3.Nf3, White makes the check impossible.
- Benoni Detour: In the main Fianchetto line Black may reply 3…c5, aiming for a Modern Benoni after 4.d5. With 3.Nf3, White keeps the d-pawn flexible—he can meet 3…c5 with 4.d5 or even 4.e3, sidestepping some Benoni theory.
- Waiting Strategy: Black must decide on a central structure (…d6, …d5, or …c5) before knowing whether White will play g3, e4, or even g4!? in ultra-modern experiments.
Strategic Themes
- Queenside Expansion for White
Once White castles kingside, the usual plan is to claim space on the queenside with moves like b2-b4, a2-a4, and sometimes c4-c5. The fianchettoed bishop on g2 supports this advance by eyeing the d5-square. - Standard King’s-side Attack for Black
Black often follows the classic King’s Indian recipe: …d6, …e5, …f5, and a pawn storm against White’s king. Because the white king sits behind the sturdy fianchetto, the attack is slower to break through than in the Mar del Plata lines. - Central Tension
The battle over the e4- and d5-squares remains central. If Black achieves …e5 without concession he obtains good counterplay; if White restrains it, Black can be cramped.
Historical Context
The Fianchetto Variation rose to prominence in the 1950s and 60s with the games of Bobby Fischer and later Anatoly Karpov, who appreciated its solidity. The delayed version became fashionable in the 1990s when Vladimir Kramnik—seeking a low-risk weapon against Garry Kasparov’s feared King’s Indian—used it with remarkable success. Today it is a mainstay for elite grandmasters such as Magnus Carlsen and Anish Giri when they wish to dampen Black’s attacking ambitions while keeping winning chances.
Illustrative Example
Below is a condensed score of a model game showing typical ideas:
Kramnik – Carlsen, Wijk aan Zee 2010 – Kramnik demonstrates queenside space-gaining (b2-b4, a2-a4) while neutralising Black’s typical …f5 thrust. Carlsen’s pieces run short of squares and the structural bind proves decisive.
Sample Plans
- White Plan
- Castle early: 5.0-0 keeps the king safe.
- Expand on the queenside: b4, a4, Rb1, etc.
- Meet Black’s …e5 break with dxe5 and clamp the d6-pawn.
- Black Plan
- Classical: …d6, …e5, …Nc6, …Bg4, later …f5-f4.
- Modern: …c6, …Qa5, …b5, mirroring White’s queenside initiative.
- Benko-style: …c5 followed by …b5 gambit if White allows.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- “Kramnik’s Pet Line” – Vladimir Kramnik’s outstanding score (+6-0-15) as White in the late 1990s led many commentators to dub this variation his “iron-safe.”
- Computer Era Surprise – In online rapid play the move 4…c5!? (immediately challenging the center) has become a fashionable engine-approved sideline, showing that the opening still evolves.
- Minimal-risk Weapon – Statistically, White’s loss rate in the Delayed Fianchetto is one of the lowest among all major KID branches according to ChessBase Mega 2024.
When to Choose It
Select the Delayed Fianchetto if you:
- Prefer a solid yet flexible system against the King’s Indian.
- Want to cut down on forcing theory without playing purely “positionally.”
- Like strategic maneuvering and long-term queenside pressure.
Further Study
- Grandmaster Video Series “KID Fianchetto Reloaded” by GM Giri.
- Kasparov’s annotations in “My Great Predecessors V” on Karpov-Fischer hypothetical battles.