King's Indian: 3.Nc3 c5
King’s Indian: 3.Nc3 c5
Definition
The sequence 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 c5 is a sharp branch of the King’s Indian Defence (KID) in which Black immediately strikes at White’s centre with the pawn-thrust ...c7-c5 instead of the more traditional ...d7-d6 followed by ...e7-e5. Although it begins from a King’s Indian move-order, the position typically transposes to a Modern Benoni structure after 4.d5 Bg7. Because of this dual heritage you will also see the line catalogued as the “Benoni via the King’s Indian,” the “Accelerated Benoni,” or ECO code A56–A57.
Move-Order Ideas
The critical branching points are:
- 4.d5 Bg7 5.e4 d6 – the main road to the Modern Benoni where Black hopes the semi-open e-file and dynamic pawn majority on the queenside will offer counterplay.
- 4.Nf3 – an anti-Benoni answer. White keeps the centre fluid and can steer the game back into more typical King’s Indian territory after 4…cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7.
- 4.e3 – an older, quieter system (the “Colle-Benoni Hybrid”) aiming to blunt Black’s dark-squared bishop.
Strategic Themes
- Imbalance by Design. After 4.d5, the pawn structure becomes asymmetrical: White gains space on the kingside and centre; Black receives a mobile pawn majority on the queenside plus the long diagonal g7–a1 for the fianchettoed bishop.
- Piece Activity vs. Pawn Centre. Black’s early ...c5 concedes a central pawn (e.g. d5 vs. d6) but accelerates piece activity and opens files for counterplay.
- Timing of ...e6 or ...e5. Choosing when (or whether) to strike with the other pawn break is the strategic heart of Benoni positions that arise from this move-order.
- Move-Order Traps. Because 3…c5 is played before ...Bg7, careless play can allow White to exploit the still-un-fianchettoed bishop with ideas like 4.dxc5 or 4.e3 and 5.e4, gaining an extra tempo.
Historical Significance
The idea of playing ...c5 at the first available moment gained traction in the 1950s thanks to players such as Isaac Boleslavsky and Mikhail Tal, who enjoyed the resulting complications. In the computer era the line remains a dangerous fighting weapon; engines confirm that imbalanced Benoni structures often offer Black practical winning chances, even if objective evaluation hovers around equality.
Illustrative Game
The following miniature shows the typical transformation into a Modern Benoni and a thematic kingside attack by White:
- Move 10, 11: Black exchanges in the centre, aiming at a half-open e-file.
- 18.f3 – White prepares the trademark pawn storm f3–f4–f5.
- A few moves later (not shown) White sacrificed on e5, a classic Benoni device, and launched a mating attack on the dark squares.
Tips for Practical Play
- For White
- Decide on move 4 whether you want the space-grabbing Benoni structure (4.d5) or prefer to keep options open with 4.Nf3.
- In Benoni set-ups, timely pawn breaks f2-f4-f5 and e4-e5 are your main attacking guns.
- Do not neglect queenside development (e.g. Be2, a4, Nc4)—it both bolsters the centre and restrains Black’s minority advance ...b5.
- For Black
- Memorise key tactical ideas such as the ...b5 pawn break, the exchange sacrifice ...Rxe4, and piece injections on g4 and e4.
- Be flexible: sometimes ...e6 is better than the automatic ...e5, especially if White has not castled.
- Watch out for early Bf4 systems, which aim to neutralise the g7-bishop before it awakens.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- When Garry Kasparov was asked why he frequently met 1.d4 with the Benoni, he quipped, “If you want to beat a grandmaster, give him a Benoni pawn structure and wait for him to overextend.” The 3…c5 move-order is one way of forcing that wish upon White.
- Grandmaster Ivan Sokolov, author of the authoritative book “Winning Chess Explained: The Modern Benoni,” notes that a surprising percentage of decisive results at top level stem from this very move-order, reflecting its inherently unbalanced nature.
- The line enjoyed a renaissance after Vugar Gashimov—famed for his Benoni expertise—used it to outplay elite opponents such as Caruana and Ivanchuk in the late 2000s.
Related Systems
- The pure Modern Benoni: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 (skipping the KID fianchetto move).
- The Czech Benoni: ...e6 and ...c5 without an early ...g6.
- The orthodox King’s Indian main line: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6.
Take-Away
King’s Indian: 3.Nc3 c5 is a combative choice that drags the game into Modern Benoni waters before White can employ anti-Benoni move-orders. Mastering its dynamic plans rewards both sides with rich, double-edged play and plenty of chances to outwit an unprepared opponent.