King's Indian: 3.Bg5

King's Indian: 3.Bg5

Definition

The line 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Bg5 is an early-bishop system designed to meet the King’s Indian Defence (KID) – and, by transposition, the Grünfeld Defence – with an immediate pin on the f6-knight. Because the move appears on White’s third turn, it is sometimes grouped with the Trompowsky (1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5) and Torre (1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bg5) families and is catalogued under ECO code A41. It is occasionally called the “Anti-KID Trompowsky” or the “Knaak Variation” after the German grandmaster Rainer Knaak, an early adopter.

Typical Move-Order

The critical junction arises after:

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6
3. Bg5
   • 3…Bg7 – the most common reply, entering a flexible set-up.
   • 3…Ne4 – challenging the bishop at once.
   • 3…c5 – heading for Benoni structures.
   • 3…d5 – steering play toward a Grünfeld or Catalan-style centre.

Strategic Aims

• Pin & Tension: By pinning the f6-knight to the queen, White delays …Bg7-…d6 setups and may provoke concessions such as …h6 or …d5.
• Flexible Pawn Centre: White can choose between e2–e4 (classical pawn duo), cxd5 followed by e4 (isolated d-pawn), or quiet development with Nf3 and e3.
• Piece Activity over Space: The bishop on g5 often drops back to h4 or e3, maintaining pressure and keeping open the option of Bxf6 to damage Black’s kingside structure.
• Avoiding Mainline Theory: Many players adopt 3.Bg5 to sidestep the heavily analysed Mar del Plata and Orthodox KID variations while still keeping chances for an attack.

Historical Perspective

Although the idea predates World War II, it gained practical prominence in the 1970s when Mikhail Tal and Rainer Knaak used it to avoid concrete Grünfeld preparation. In the computer age, the line attracts practical players (e.g., Alexander Grischuk, Baadur Jobava) who relish its unbalanced middlegames.

Main Branches

The following tabulation shows the four principal continuations from the diagram position after 3.Bg5:

• A) 3…Bg7 4.Nc3 d6 5.e4 – a hybrid between KID and Pirc structures.
• B) 3…Ne4 4.Bf4 c5 (or 4…c5 5.d5) – a Benoni-like, double-edged game.
• C) 3…c5 4.d5 Ne4 5.Bf4 – Kingside majority versus queenside play.
• D) 3…d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.dxc5 – transposes to a Tarrasch-flavoured IQP battle.

Illustrative Example

The following abbreviated game shows the attacking potential of 3.Bg5 when Black responds with …Bg7:

Gurevich – Knaak, Novi Sad Olympiad 1990 – White’s two central pawns steamrolled the position after an early Bxf6 idea coupled with f2–f4–f5.

Practical Tips for Both Sides

• For White:
  • Do not rush Bxf6; keep the tension until the exchange inflicts maximum structural damage.
  • Consider the e2–e4 advance only when Black cannot easily respond with …c5 or …d5.
  • The queen often belongs on d2 or a4, ready for a kingside fling or queenside pressure.
• For Black:
  • The move …h6 followed by …g5 gains space but weakens dark squares – calculate precisely.
  • Counter-pin with …Bb4+ (after 3…Bg7 4.Nc3) can force White to clarify the centre.
  • Transposing to Benoni or Grünfeld structures via …c5 or …d5 can lead to more familiar ground.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• When Garry Kasparov faced Vishy Anand in a 1995 training match, he used 3.Bg5 as a surprise weapon—Anand sank into a 40-minute think on move 4.
• The line appeals to club players because Black has no fully symmetrical or fully equalising reply: engines usually give White a nibble of an edge (+0.20 – +0.40).
• Grandmaster Baadur Jobava once quipped, “3.Bg5 is a pocket knife – small, but if the opponent blunders you can still cut him.”

Summary

King’s Indian: 3.Bg5 is a practical, off-beat antidote that combines the Trompowsky’s early pin with classical central ambitions. Its strategic richness, relative theoretical freshness, and capacity to transpose into a variety of pawn structures make it an excellent addition to any d4-player’s repertoire.