King's Indian: Mar del Plata (10.f3-13.a4)
King's Indian: Mar del Plata, 10.f3 f5 11.Be3 f4 12.Bf2 g5 13.a4
Definition
The phrase refers to a specific branch of the Mar del Plata Variation of the King’s Indian Defence (KID). The full opening move order is usually written:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.f3 f5 11.Be3 f4 12.Bf2 g5 13.a4
By move 13 both sides have committed to their typical Mar del Plata pawn storms: Black is hurling kingside pawns (…f5–f4 and …g5) against White’s castled king, while White advances on the queenside with a4 (often followed by a5, c5, and b4). The position is razor-sharp, featuring opposite-wing attacks, blocked centers, and long theoretical discussions stretching back to the 1950s.
How the Line Is Used in Play
- Black’s Aim: Open lines toward White’s king by pushing …g4, landing a knight on g6/f6, and sometimes sacrificing material with …g3 or …Kh8–…Rg8–…Bf6.
- White’s Aim: Break open the queenside with c5, a5, and b4. The knight on e1 may reroute to d3/f2, the dark-squared bishop often goes to g4 or h3 after rerouting, and the rooks swing to the a- or c-files.
- Timing Is Everything: Each tempo invested in pawn storms must be justified. A single slow move can tilt the race decisively.
Strategic Significance
The resulting middlegame illustrates several recurring KID themes:
- Locked Center: With pawns on d5 and e4–e5, the center is closed, allowing both sides to attack on opposite wings without immediate central rebuttal.
- Pawn Storm vs. Piece Play: Black’s expansion is pawn-driven; White’s counterplay often involves rapid piece mobilization on the queenside.
- Exchange Sacrifices: Black may offer an exchange on f3 or g3; White sometimes gives an exchange on a8 to accelerate the pawn avalanche.
- Space vs. Initiative: White has more queenside space; Black relies on dynamic piece placement and tempo to create mating threats.
Historical Background
The Mar del Plata was named after a 1953 tournament in Mar del Plata, Argentina, where several games featured the characteristic pawn structure with …f7-f5 and White’s d5 advance. The 10.f3 f5 11.Be3 f4 12.Bf2 g5 13.a4 branch became popular in the late 1970s and early 1980s thanks to Soviet analysts such as Kasparov, Beliavsky, and Dolmatov. Garry Kasparov used the setup in his 1984 Candidates matches, while modern exponents include Teimour Radjabov and Hikaru Nakamura (on the Black side) and Peter Svidler and Boris Gelfand (on the White side).
Illustrative Example
One of the most cited battles is the following (highly condensed) encounter, showing typical play after 13.a4:
In this game Radjabov–Nakamura, Wijk aan Zee 2011, Black’s kingside pawn storm eventually overwhelmed White’s defenses after a thematic exchange sacrifice on f3.
Typical Plans and Motifs
- For Black
- …h5–h4 to fix the g3 square.
- …g4 followed by …g3, sometimes sacrificing a pawn to open lines.
- Knight manoeuvres …Nf6–h5–g3 or …Nf8–g6–h4.
- Exchange sacrifice …Rxf3 when White’s king is vulnerable.
- For White
- Advance a4–a5, b4–b5, and c5 to break open the a- and c-files.
- Redirect the e1-knight via d3 to b4/c5/e5.
- Push g2-g4 in some lines to blunt Black’s pawn phalanx.
- Sacrifice on a8 (Bxa8 or Rxa8) to shatter Black’s queenside.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Because the position is so sharp, grandmasters sometimes agree to a pre-game split—one is happy to play the White side for a must-win situation, while the other adopts it as Black when a sharp fight is desirable.
- The computer engines of the 1990s initially disliked Black’s chances here, rating the locked center and kingside weaknesses poorly. Modern neural-net engines, however, embrace Black’s dynamic sacrifice ideas, making the line fashionable again.
- Garry Kasparov’s notebook contained 60 pages dedicated to this exact position during his 1984 preparation against Korchnoi—demonstrating the depth of theoretical analysis it demands.
When to Choose This Line
Players who relish double-edged tactical middlegames, are comfortable with material imbalances, and enjoy meticulous home preparation will find this variation rewarding. Conversely, if you prefer quiet maneuvering or dislike king-side risk, you might opt for more positional branches such as the Fianchetto Variation against the KID instead.