King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack and Normal Attack
King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack
Definition
The Four Pawns Attack is an aggressive anti-King’s Indian system in which White plants four pawns in the center and on the kingside: d-pawn, e-pawn, f-pawn, and c-pawn. The basic move order is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4. ECO code: E76-E79.
Typical Move Order
One common tabiya is reached after:
- 1.d4 Nf6
- 2.c4 g6
- 3.Nc3 Bg7
- 4.e4 d6
- 5.f4 0-0
- 6.Nf3 c5
- 7.d5 e6
White’s pawns on d5-e4-f4-c4 dominate space; Black counters with pawn breaks …e6, …c5, and …b5.
Strategic Ideas
- White
- Maintain the big pawn center and push e5 or f5.
- Rapid development with Nf3, Be2, 0-0, sometimes h3 and g4.
- Tactical sacrifices on e6 or f5 if Black delays counterplay.
- Black
- Undermine the center with …c5 and/or …e6.
- Attack the d4-pawn with …Qa5, …Re8, …Bf5.
- After exchanges, exploit the light-square weaknesses around White’s king.
Historical Significance
The line gained prominence in the 1920s–30s through the games of Frank Marshall and Ernst Grünfeld (yes, the Grünfeld defender!). Later, players like David Bronstein, Efim Geller, and Rashid Nezhmetdinov used it as a fearsome weapon. Although less common at elite level today, it remains popular in rapid and club play because of its direct attacking nature.
Illustrative Game
Najdorf – Bronstein, Zurich Candidates 1953
Bronstein’s bold 20…Ng4! and later …c4 smashed the white center, showing how quickly the structure can collapse if Black times his breaks correctly.
Interesting Facts
- The same name, “Four Pawns Attack,” is used against the Alekhine Defense; both share the motif of an over-extended pawn phalanx.
- In the 1990s Garry Kasparov surprised several opponents (e.g., Kasparov–Piket, Wijk aan Zee 1999) with the Four Pawns as a one-off shock weapon.
- Engine analysis shows the line to be roughly equal, but only if Black finds concrete counterplay; human defenders often falter under pressure.
King's Indian Defense: Normal Attack (Classical Main Line)
Definition
“Normal Attack” is an older name—still used in many databases—for the classical way of meeting the King’s Indian: White develops naturally with Nf3, Be2, 0-0 and waits to see how Black commits his pieces before choosing a middlegame plan. Typical moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0. ECO codes: E90-E94.
Main Position
After 7…Nc6 (or 7…exd4 8.Nxd4 Re8), the following flexible setup is characteristic:
White’s pieces sit behind an intact pawn center, while Black prepares the thematic kingside pawn storm …f5 and piece activity with …Nh5, …Nf4, or …Ng4.
Strategic Themes
- Central Tension – White can keep the center closed (d4–e4 vs. d6–e5) or exchange with dxe5 to enter quieter lines, depending on taste.
- Queenside Expansion – Plans with b4, c5, and Be3/Na4 are common if the center remains closed.
- Black’s Kingside Attack – A pawn storm beginning with …f5 is the trademark KID idea; if it arrives with full force White’s king can be in serious danger.
- Endgame Edge for White – Should minor pieces be exchanged and the queenside majority start rolling, White often stands better in simplified endings.
Historical Perspective
The Normal Attack became the chief battleground of the King’s Indian in the 1950s. Petrosian, Smyslov, and later Karpov adopted it as a “strategic squeeze” system, forcing dynamic players such as Fischer, Kasparov, and Radjabov to seek creative pawn breaks. Modern stars like Fabiano Caruana and Ding Liren continue to test the line in classical games when they want a sound, non-forcing weapon.
Illustrative Games
- Petrosian – Fischer, Candidates 1971 (Petrosian’s cautious 10.Be3 followed by Qd2 and Rfd1 stifled Fischer’s kingside ambitions.)
- Caruana – Radjabov, Berlin 2015 (A modern demonstration of the 7…exd4 8.Nxd4 Re8 sideline; Black dissolved the center but yielded a persistent endgame bind.)
Interesting Facts
- The move 7.0-0 was once considered “harmless” because it does not fight for the center immediately; today engines rate it as one of White’s most challenging tries.
- Many transpositions occur: with h3-Be3 it can morph into the Makagonov or Gligorić systems; with d5 it can resemble the Petrosian Variation.
- Anand famously used the Normal Attack to hold off Kasparov’s feared King’s Indian in their 1995 PCA World Championship match—Kasparov eventually abandoned the opening.