King's Indian Defence Overview
King’s Indian Defence (KID)
Definition
The King’s Indian Defence is a hyper-modern chess opening that arises after the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6. Black voluntarily cedes space in the centre, aiming to counter-attack later with pawn breaks such as …e5 or …c5 and piece pressure against White’s extended pawn chain. Its ECO codes are E60–E99.
Basic Move Order & Key Branches
The KID can be reached through several transpositions, but the common backbone is:
- 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 – Mar del Plata Variation
- 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Nd4 – Classical, Gligorić System
- 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 c5 – Fianchetto System (from White)
- 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 Na6 – Petrosian System
- 4. e4 d6 5. f3 – Sämisch System (White castles long or keeps king in the centre)
Typical Plans and Structures
Because Black delays occupation of the centre, middlegame structures are sharp and strategic concepts are paramount:
- Pawn Breaks: Black’s …e5 or …c5 attacks the d4-pawn; White seeks c5, dxe5 or f4–f5 to open lines.
- Kingside Storm: In the Mar del Plata, Black plays …f5–f4, …g5 and often sacrifices a piece on g3 or h3 to rip open the h-file toward White’s king.
- Queenside Expansion: White usually pushes c4–c5, b2–b4–b5 and sometimes a4–a5 to gain space and create a passed pawn.
- Piece Placement: Knights often land on f4, g4 (for Black) or b5, d5 (for White); Black’s light-squared bishop frequently returns to e7 or f8 to reinforce the kingside.
Strategic & Psychological Significance
The KID epitomises hyper-modern philosophy—allowing the opponent to build a broad pawn centre that later becomes a target. It appeals to aggressive, tactical players who relish unbalanced positions and strategic tension. World Champions such as Bobby Fischer, Garry Kasparov, and Magnus Carlsen have all used the defence in must-win situations, attesting to its fighting character: drawish lines are scarce.
Illustrative Position
The following diagram shows a classic Mar del Plata middlegame after 8…Ne7, where both sides have launched their respective pawn storms:
Historical Highlights & Famous Games
- Fischer – Gligorić, Siegen Olympiad 1970: Fischer’s 9. Ne1 and 10. f3 plan became a mainline; Black’s pawn storm narrowly failed, giving Fischer a model win for White.
- Kasparov – Karpov, World Championship (Game 16) 1985: Kasparov uncorked the Exchange Sacrifice 20. Rxc8! followed by 21. c5, a pivotal moment in his march to the title.
- Radjabov – Anand, Wijk aan Zee 2007: A modern KID specialist out-prepares the reigning World Champion, reviving the line with …Na6 and …c6 to score a sensational victory.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The defence is named “Indian” because the fianchetto …g6–…Bg7 was popularised by early 20th-century Indian masters such as Moheschunder Bannerjee, though its modern form took shape in the 1920s.
- Grandmaster David Bronstein once claimed, “The King’s Indian is like playing Russian roulette—except you get to pull the trigger on your opponent.”
- During preparation for his 1997 match versus Deep Blue, Garry Kasparov asked programmers to remove KID positions from the training set, hoping the computer would misplay the resulting complexities.
- Teimour Radjabov became the first player to defeat both Kasparov and Anand with the KID—before his 17th birthday!
When (and When Not) to Choose the KID
Ideal for players who:
- Enjoy sharp, double-edged positions with mutual attacks.
- Are comfortable playing with less space and manoeuvring behind the pawn wall.
- Seek a repertoire against 1. d4 that avoids early simplification.
Less suitable if you:
- Prefer quiet, strategic endings or symmetrical pawn structures.
- Dislike defending cramped positions for several moves.
- Need a low-risk choice when a draw suffices.
Further Study
Modern resources range from the classic book King’s Indian Defence by Barden & Harding to contemporary video series by top grandmasters. Practical improvement comes from analysing your own games—use the “Replay” feature or engine sparingly to preserve the opening’s human fighting spirit.