King's Indian Defense: Orthodox & Gligoric-Taimanov

King’s Indian Defense: Orthodox (Classical) Variation

Definition

The Orthodox, or Classical, Variation of the King’s Indian Defense arises after the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O. It is catalogued in ECO codes E90–E99. White places the king’s knight on f3 and the king’s bishop on e2, then castles, adopting a solid centre with pawns on d4 and e4.

How it is Used

• Central Tension: Black’s …e5 challenges White’s centre; the battle often revolves around whether Black plays …exd4, …Nc6–e7, or …c5.
• King-side Plans: Black typically attacks on the king side with …f5, …g5, and piece sacrifices, while White looks for space-gaining queenside play with b4 and c5.
• Move-Order Nuances: White may vary between 7. O-O, 7. d5 (the Petrosian), 7. Be3 (the Makagonov), or 7. h3 (the Makagonov) to avoid specific Black counter-plans.

Strategic Significance

The Orthodox Variation represents the “main line” battleground of the King’s Indian:

• Black accepts a slightly cramped position in return for dynamic chances.
• Pawn structures often transpose into Mar del Plata formations where White’s queenside majority races Black’s king-side pawn storm.
• Historically employed by dynamic players such as David Bronstein, Efim Geller, Bobby Fischer, and Garry Kasparov.

Example Line

A typical Orthodox set-up leading to the famous “Mar del Plata” structure:

Interesting Facts

• The name “Orthodox” was coined to distinguish it from the Sämisch (5. f3) and Four-Pawn Attack (f2-f4) which were viewed as “irregular” in the 1930s.
• Karpov–Kasparov World Championship matches (1984-1990) featured the Orthodox Variation in more than a dozen critical games.
• Despite computer engines initially favouring White’s space advantage, modern neural-network engines now evaluate many Orthodox king-side attacks as fully sound.

Gligorić–Taimanov System (within the King’s Indian Orthodox Variation)

Definition

The Gligorić–Taimanov System is a specific plan for White in the Orthodox King’s Indian beginning with 7. O-O exd4 8. Nxd4 Re8 9. f3. Named after Yugoslav grandmaster Svetozar Gligorić and Soviet grandmaster Mark Taimanov, it bolsters the e4-pawn with f2-f3, prepares Be3 or Bg5, and restrains Black’s typical …Ng4 jump.

Key Ideas  (for White)

1. Central Solidity: The f-pawn protects e4 and supports the eventual advance e4-e5 under favourable circumstances.
2. Flexible Development: After f3, White often plays Be3, Qd2, Rac1, and Rfd1, retaining the option of a minority attack with b4-b5.
3. No Weak Dark Squares: Unlike the Sämisch (5. f3), White’s king is already castled, keeping the dark-square complex safer.

Main Defensive Plans  (for Black)

• 9…c5: Immediate pressure on d4, seeking Benoni-type play.
• 9…Nc6 10. Be3 Nh5: Provokes g2-g4, steering the game back into more typical KID complications.
• 9…c6 10. Kh1 a5: Slows White’s b-pawn expansion and prepares …d5 breaks.

Historical & Practical Significance

Popular during the 1960s–1980s as a positional antidote to the razor-sharp Mar del Plata, it remains a reliable choice for players who prefer manoeuvring battles over pawn storms.

Representative Games

• Gligorić vs Fischer, Varna Olympiad 1962 — Gligorić’s trademark 9.f3 held Fischer to a draw despite Black’s aggressive intent.
• Taimanov vs Najdorf, Zürich 1953 Candidates — Taimanov showcased the system’s prophylactic nature, slowly outplaying Najdorf on the queenside.
• Carlsen vs Nakamura, London 2013 — A modern illustration where Carlsen employed 9.f3, neutralised Black’s initiative, and converted a small structural edge.

Sample Line

Trivia & Anecdotes

• Mark Taimanov originally intended the f3-Be3 set-up to transpose into a Scheveningen-style Sicilian structure, believing the strategic motifs were easier to handle from the White side.
• Garry Kasparov seldom faced the 9.f3 line in his peak years, confessing in an interview that “It tempts Black to over-press.”
• The system is sometimes called the “Fianchetto-Without-Fianchetto” because White’s light-square bishop often lands on e3 instead of g2 yet the pawn chain resembles a King’s Indian Fianchetto set-up.