King's Indian: 5.Be2 O-O

King's Indian: 5.Be2 O-O

Definition

“King’s Indian: 5.Be2 O-O” refers to the mainstream tabiya of the King’s Indian Defense (KID) reached after the moves
:

1. 1. d4 Nf6
2. 2. c4 g6
3. 3. Nc3 Bg7
4. 4. e4 d6
5. 5. Be2 O-O

Here White develops the king’s bishop to e2 before castling, while Black completes kingside development with 5…O-O. This position is so common that it is often taken as the starting point for dozens of KID branches such as the Classical (6.Nf3), the Petrosian (6.d5), and the Gligorić (6.Bg5) Systems.

Strategic Themes

• Pawn Structure: The characteristic Closed KID structure (pawns on d6–e5 vs d4–e4) has not yet been fixed; after 5…O-O, Black may choose …e5, …c5, or even …Nbd7 and …e6 depending on what White plays next.
• Flexibility for White: By delaying Nf3 or an early d5-push, White keeps options open:
  • 6.Nf3 → Classical Main Line.
  • 6.Bg5 → Gligorić System, pinning the f6-knight.
  • 6.f3 → Sämisch setups after Be2, useful to blunt …Bg7.
  • 6.d5 → Petrosian System, grabbing space.
• Black’s Counterplay: Once castled, Black normally prepares either
  1. …e5 with kingside pawn-storm (…f5, …g5, …f4), or
  2. …c5 for Queen’s-side play in the Mar del Plata structures.

Historical Context

The move order 5.Be2 O-O became fashionable in the mid-20^th century when David Bronstein and Isaac Boleslavsky refined King’s Indian ideas. Later, Mikhail Tal, Bobby Fischer, and Garry Kasparov all used this line as Black to score dynamic wins. On the White side, players like Svetozar Gligorić and Tigran Petrosian introduced the two systems that now bear their names, both beginning from this very position.

Typical Plans for Each Side

• White
  • Expand on the queenside with b4, c5 once Black commits to …e5.
  • Occupy the center with d5 or reinforce with f3, Be3, Qd2 ideas.
  • Target Black’s dark-squared weaknesses (d6, e5) after exchanges.
• Black
  • Break with …e5 or …c5 depending on piece placement.
  • Launch a kingside attack: …f5, …g5, …f4 with heavy pieces on h-file.
  • Utilize the g7-bishop and knight hops …Nh5, …Nf4 vs White’s king.

Illustrative Games

• Petrosian – Spassky, Candidates 1966 (Game 10) – From the 5.Be2 O-O position Petrosian played 6.d5 and slowly strangled Black’s queenside, showcasing the positional potential of the Petrosian System.
• Kasparov – Korchnoi, Linares 1994 – Kasparov opted for 6.Bg5, ripped open the center, and executed a textbook exchange sacrifice on d5 to activate his dark-squared bishop.
• Fischer – Gligorić, Varna Olympiad 1962 – Fischer steered into a Classical 6.Nf3 line and demonstrated the power of the f-pawn advance f2-f3-f4 in undermining Black’s blockade.

Interesting Facts

• The ECO (Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings) code for the position after 5.Be2 O-O is E94, but many subsequent branches shift into E90-E99 depending on White’s sixth move.
• Although 5.Be2 looks “quiet,” databases reveal that over 70 % of all King’s Indian games at master level pass through this move order.
• In the 1993 PCA World Championship, Karpov vs. Timman Game 9, Karpov used 5.Be2 O-O 6.Nf3 to score the first King’s Indian win by White in a world-title match in three decades.
• Computer engines once assessed the KID as slightly inferior for Black, but neural-network engines (e.g., Leela Zero) now consider the position roughly equal, praising Black’s attacking chances.

Summary

The sequence 5.Be2 O-O is the universal “gateway” to the rich and double-edged universe of the King’s Indian Defense. Its flexibility allows both sides to steer toward razor-sharp opposite-wing attacks or deep positional maneuvering, ensuring the line’s enduring popularity from club play to elite tournaments.