King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation
Definition
The Averbakh Variation is a branch of the King's Indian Defense that begins with the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5. It is named after the Russian grandmaster and theorist Yuri Averbakh, who popularized the line in the 1950s. White’s 6.Bg5 pins the knight on f6 and discourages Black’s usual pawn thrust …e7-e5, steering the position away from the sharp classical lines toward a more strategic battle where both sides must reorganize their pieces before launching pawn breaks.
Move Order & Typical Position
The defining position after 6.Bg5 contains the following notable features:
- The dark-squared bishop on g5 limits the scope of Black's king-side knight and restricts …e5.
- Black has already castled, while White typically retains the option to castle king-side or sometimes queen-side (after Qd2).
- Central tension remains: neither side has committed to d4-d5 or …e7-e5.
Strategic Ideas for White
- Pin & Pressure: Maintain the pin with Bg5 and sometimes follow up with Qd2, f3, and g4 to grab space on the king side.
- Central Expansion: Prepare f2-f3 and g2-g4, or develop quietly with Nf3, aiming for d4-d5 when the moment is right.
- Flexible Castling: White can delay castling, choosing king-side safety or a more aggressive queen-side castle with long-term attacking chances.
- Endgame Dream: By limiting Black’s typical pawn breaks, White often heads for a small but persistent structural edge in simplified positions.
Strategic Ideas for Black
- Break the Pin: Moves such as …h6 (forcing Bxf6 or Bh4), …Nbd7, or …e7-e6 challenge the bishop on g5.
- Queenside Counterplay: The trendy 6…c5 leads to Benoni-style struggles where Black attacks on the queenside while White probes the center and king side.
- Piece Re-Routing: Lines with …Na6 and …c6 aim at …Nc7 & …d5, striking in the center without exposing the king.
- Pawn Storm Timing: If White castles long, …f5 and …g5 can create a double-edged race.
Historical Significance
Yuri Averbakh adopted this line to blunt the frightening king-side attacks King’s Indian specialists were scoring in the 1940s–50s. His fresh concept of an early Bg5 redirected play toward the center and queenside, inspiring many positional players to meet the King’s Indian more confidently. Over the decades, the variation served as a key theoretical battleground for Korchnoi, Geller, Ulf Andersson, and, in modern times, Anish Giri and Wesley So.
Model Games
-
Kasparov – Shirov, Linares 1993
− A whirlwind attack after 6…c5 7.d5. Kasparov eventually sacrificed material to open
Black’s king and finished with a mating net, showcasing White’s attacking potential
when Black miscalculates.
- Gelfand – Radjabov, Moscow Tal Memorial 2008 − Black employed the modern 6…Na6 line, steered the game into a blocked structure, and later broke with …c5 and …e6, securing a fine endgame.
Typical Plans & Counter-Plans
- If Black plays 6…h6 7.Be3!? White keeps the bishop pair and prepares Qd2 & 0-0-0.
- If Black plays 6…c5: 7.d5 e6 8.Nf3 exd5 9.cxd5 leads to a Benoni structure with colors reversed dynamics: White holds space; Black targets the d-file.
- If Black plays 6…e5: 7.d5 h6 8.Be3 c6 9.Nf3 transposes into flexible Mar del Plata setups but with the bishop already on e3 instead of c1.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Yuri Averbakh, better known today for his encyclopedic endgame volumes, was also an opening pioneer; his own results with the line were modest, yet it earned eternal recognition through his analytical contributions.
- Garry Kasparov once remarked that the Averbakh “domesticates the King’s Indian,” illustrating how 6.Bg5 can convert a wild opening into a positional squeeze.
- In several computer matches (e.g., Stockfish-Leela 2022) the engines found hidden attacking resources for Black after 6…c5 7.d5 h6, rejuvenating interest in the variation at top level.
Practical Tips
- As White, do not rush d4-d5 too early; wait until your pieces are harmoniously placed, especially the knight on f3.
- As Black, be mindful of pawn structure concessions after …h6 Bxf6 exf6, which can give White a lasting target on d6 or f6.
- Study recent grandmaster games for new move-order subtleties, particularly the fashionable …Na6-c6 plans.