King's Indian Defence: Normal Variation 3...Bg7
King's Indian Defence
Definition
The King’s Indian Defence (often abbreviated “KID”) is a hyper-modern opening for Black that begins with the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6. Black permits White to occupy the centre with pawns and intends to strike back later with ...e7-e5 or ...c7-c5. It occupies ECO codes A48–A49 and E60–E99.
Typical Move-Order
One of the most common starting sequences is:
- 1. d4 Nf6
- 2. c4 g6
- 3. Nc3 Bg7
- 4. e4 d6
- 5. Nf3 O-O
Strategic Ideas
- Hyper-modern counterplay. Black delays occupying the centre with pawns, instead targeting White’s centre with pieces and pawn breaks.
- Pawn breaks: ...e5 is the main break; ...c5 is the secondary. Occasionally ...b5 or ...f5 appear in Spezialised lines.
- Kingside attack. In many variations (Classical, Mar del Plata) Black castles short and launches a pawn storm with ...f5, ...g5, ...f4.
- Flexible set-ups for White. White can choose among the Classical, Sämisch, Fianchetto, Four-Pawns, Averbakh, Makagonov, etc.
Historical Significance
Although the opening had its adherents in the 19th century (e.g., Wilhelm Steinitz), it was Mikhail Botvinnik’s 1951 World Championship match against David Bronstein that popularised the modern treatment. Bobby Fischer adopted it as his exclusive defence to 1. d4 in the 1960s, scoring +10 =5 -0 in the 1970 Interzonal: “The light-square bishop is my best minor piece,” he quipped.
Illustrative Game
Garry Kasparov – Veselin Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999. Kasparov employed the Sämisch Variation, but Topalov’s pawn sacrifice and exchange sac led to one of the most famous tactical king walks in modern chess.
Interesting Facts
- Computer engines long disliked the KID’s structural concessions, yet in practice the opening remains a fighting weapon at elite level.
- Kasparov’s decisive last-round win with the KID against Karpov (Linares 1993) clinched the tournament and a psychological edge for later matches.
- The opening is popular in correspondence and online blitz because of its rich tactical possibilities.
Normal Variation (King’s Indian)
Definition
The term “Normal Variation” (ECO E90) refers to the position that arises after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O. This is the tabiya from which White chooses how to develop the dark-square bishop and where to place the queen’s knight. It is “normal” because neither side has yet committed to a specific sub-system.
Why It Matters
- Branching Point. From here, White decides between the Classical (6. Be2), Petrosian (6. Be2 e5 7. d5), Sämisch (6. f3), Gligorić (6. Be3), or Makagonov (6. h3).
- Maximum Flexibility for Black. Black can respond with ...Nc6, ...e5, ...c5, or even the Benoni-like ...c6 and ...d5 in rare cases.
Plans and Ideas
Because the pawn structures have not yet clarified, both sides value piece placement:
- White often keeps options open to push d4-d5, e4-e5, or to play c4-c5.
- Black watches for central tension and may prepare ...e7-e5 with ...Nbd7 or ...Na6.
Example Miniature
An instructive blitz example is Nakamura – Caruana, Internet Blitz 2020, where after reaching the Normal Variation, White chose the Sämisch and delivered a swift kingside attack.
Trivia
- The Normal Variation is sometimes humorously dubbed “the calm before the storm” by club players—both sides’ intentions are hidden, but fireworks are looming.
- In databases the starting position of the Normal Variation is reached in almost 60 % of all KID games, making it the statistical main crossroads.
King’s Knight Variation (3. Nf3)
Definition
The King’s Knight Variation of the King’s Indian (ECO E60) arises after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3. White postpones Nc3, keeping c-pawn tension and avoiding early commitments against the Grünfeld (which would begin 3. Nc3 d5).
Strategic Rationale
- Grünfeld Avoidance. By playing Nf3 before Nc3, White prevents Black’s immediate ...d5.
- Flexible pawn structure. White can choose between a Catalan-like g3 set-up, a Fianchetto KID, or transposing back to main lines with Nc3 later.
- Early ...d6 or ...d5? Black must decide whether to enter a traditional KID with ...Bg7 ...d6 or head for a Benoni/Benko with ...c5.
Main Continuations
- 3...Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 – Fianchetto System.
- 3...Bg7 4. Nc3 – transposes to Classical lines.
- 3...c5 – invites Benoni structures.
Historical Context
The variation was a favourite of early hyper-modernists such as Réti. Vladimir Kramnik revived it in the 2000s to sidestep Kasparov’s exhaustive Grünfeld preparation.
Example Game
Kramnik – Kasparov, Linares 2003, showcased the line 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. O-O a6, where Kramnik employed the quiet 8. e3 and steered the game into positional channels, eventually drawing after 57 moves.
Did You Know?
- Because the KID is one of Magnus Carlsen’s rare weaknesses with Black, opponents often meet his 1...Nf6 with 3. Nf3 hoping to avoid his Grünfeld.
- Some databases label the move order 3. Nf3 as the “Barcza System,” after Hungarian GM Gedeon Barcza, an early adopter.
3...Bg7
Definition & Placement
The move 3...Bg7 is Black’s third move in many Indian-family defences, especially the King’s Indian. After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 (or 3. Nf3) Black fianchettoes the king’s bishop to g7, where it exerts long-range pressure on the centre and queenside.
Purpose of the Move
- Control of the long diagonal. From g7 the bishop eyes the key central square d4 and the queenside pawn chain.
- King Safety. The fianchetto prepares rapid castling by ...O-O.
- Flexibility. Black can still choose between King’s Indian, Grünfeld (after ...d5), Benoni (...c5), or Budapest setups.
Tactical Motifs
Because the bishop is already developed, tactics such as ...Nxe4 (after White’s e4 push) or pressure along the a1-h8 diagonal often appear. In some lines Black sacrifices ...Nxd5 or ...c5 to open the bishop.
Historical Snapshot
Grandmasters of the pre-engine era worried that the g7-bishop might be “biting on granite” against the closed d4-e5 chain, but modern praxis—especially in Fischer’s and Kasparov’s hands—proved its latent power in counterattacks.
Example Position
After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O, the g7-bishop already pressures d4 and supports a future ...e5 break.
Fun Facts
- In the so-called “Smyslov System” of the Grünfeld, Black sometimes plays 3...Bg7 only after first inserting 3...d5, underlining the bishop’s versatility.
- Statisticians note that games beginning with 3...Bg7 tend to be among the sharpest, with the highest decisive-result percentage of any third-move reply to 1. d4.