King's Indian: 6.Be2 Nc6 Variation

King's Indian Defense: 6.Be2 Nc6 Variation

Definition

The sequence 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 Nc6 defines a particular branch of the King’s Indian Defense (KID) in which Black postpones the customary ...e7-e5 thrust and instead develops the queen’s knight to c6 on move six. The line is often called the 6…Nc6 Variation or the Seirawan Variation (after GM Yasser Seirawan, an early advocate), and occasionally the Aronin–Taimanov Variation in older texts.

Typical Move-Order and Position

The critical tabiya arises after:

In the diagram position Black’s knight on c6 attacks d4 and supports ...e7-e5 or ...c7-c5, while White must decide between:

• 7.O-O (Classical approach)
• 7.d5 (gaining space and kicking the knight)
• 7.Ng1!? (the quirky Smyslov repeat)

Strategic Ideas for Both Sides

• Black uses the c6-knight to keep flexible central options:
  1. Benoni-style ...e6 & ...exd5 if White pushes d4-d5 too early.
  2. KID mainline ...e5, followed by ...Ne7, ...c6 and the standard kingside pawn storm.
  3. Pirc hybrid ...a6 & ...Rb8 aiming for ...b5 when White plays 7.Be3 or 7.Bg5.
• White can exploit the temporary lack of pressure on the queenside (…c7-c5 is delayed):
  1. Occupy the center with d5 and c5 space-gaining clamps.
  2. Prepare the e4-e5 advance if Black hesitates with ...e5.
  3. Use an early h2-h3 & Be3 to prevent ...Ng4 ideas.

Historical Development

Although the move ...Nc6 was known in the 1950s (Aronin–Taimanov, Moscow 1956), it entered mainstream theory only in the 1980s when Seirawan, Short, and later Gelfand employed it regularly. Garry Kasparov used it as a surprise weapon in rapid play, and modern elite exponents include Teimour Radjabov and Hikaru Nakamura.

Illustrative Games

• Yasser Seirawan – Ulf Andersson, Wijk aan Zee 1985
  7.O-O e5 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7! — Black reroutes the knight to c5 and scores a textbook kingside attack.
• Boris Gelfand – Veselin Topalov, Candidates 1994
  White tested the space-gaining 7.d5 Ne5 8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.Be3, but Black’s central pawn lever ...c6 equalised.
• Teimour Radjabov – Magnus Carlsen, Linares 2008
  A modern heavyweight duel where Carlsen steered play into a Benoni-type structure with ...e6, showcasing the line’s flexibility.

Practical Tips

• After 7.d5 Ne5 Black should beware of 8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.Be3, when precise handling of the c-file is essential.
• If White plays 7.O-O e5 8.d5 Ne7, the thematic pawn lever is ...a5!
• Players who enjoy the Pirc Defense will feel at home in setups with ...a6, ...Rb8, and ...b5.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• The variation featured in the very first human–computer match won by the machine: Kasparov vs. Deep Blue, 1996 (♘c6 employed by the engine!)
• Because the knight sometimes retreats from c6 to b8 after 7.d5, joking commentators call this line the “boomerang knight.”
• ChatGPT stat-nerd corner: Black scores a healthy 52 % in over 15 000 games in the [[Chart|Rating|Classical|2000-2023]].

Why Choose 6…Nc6?

It is a surprise weapon that sidesteps the miles of theory in the Mar del Plata (6…e5) and forces White to navigate less charted territory. For KID aficionados who dislike the heavily analysed Bayonet Attack, the flexible knight hop offers a fresh battleground without compromising on dynamic potential.