King's Indian Defense: Kazakh Variation
King's Indian Defense: Kazakh Variation
Definition
The Kazakh Variation of the King’s Indian Defense is a strategic line that arises after the moves:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3
White’s 5.h3 is the hallmark of the variation. The pawn on h3 prevents …Bg4, keeps the g4–square available for White’s pieces or pawns, and prepares a flexible development with Be3, Nf3, and sometimes g4. Although 5.h3 is more commonly known as the “Makogonov System,” modern opening encyclopedias (ECO code E60/E71) also list it as the “Kazakh Variation,” acknowledging the contribution of Kazakh masters who popularized the idea in Soviet-era tournaments.
Typical Move Order
A frequently encountered continuation is:
- 1.d4 Nf6
- 2.c4 g6
- 3.Nc3 Bg7
- 4.e4 d6
- 5.h3 O-O
- 6.Nf3 e5
- 7.d5 a5 (or 7…Na6, 7…c6)
- 8.Bg5 h6 9.Be3 Na6 …
Strategic Ideas
- Control of g4: By denying Black’s dark-squared bishop access to g4, White keeps the knight on f3 flexible and intends to reinforce the dark squares with Be3 or sometimes Bg5.
- Flexible Kingside Expansion: After h3, White can follow with g4 in certain lines, seizing space and discouraging Black’s standard …f7-f5 break.
- Stable Center: As in many King’s Indian systems, White often plants pawns on d5 and e4, creating a solid central wedge that cramps Black’s minor pieces.
- Dark-Square Clamp: Moves such as Be3, g4, Nd2, and Qd2 aim to cement control of the dark squares and impose long-term positional pressure.
- Counterplay for Black: Black typically reacts with …e5, …Na6–c5, …a5, and timely pawn breaks …c6 or …f5. Since …Bg4 is negated, the …Nh5–f4 or …Ne8–f6–h5 ideas gain importance.
Historical Background
The move 5.h3 was experimented with in the 1930s but gained real traction in the 1950s when Soviet grandmaster Vladimir Makogonov began scoring excellent results with it—hence the dual name “Makogonov/Kazakh.” Several Kazakh players from Alma-Ata (notably Genrikh Kasparian in debates with Tigran Petrosian) further refined the setup, leading Russian-language sources to adopt the moniker “Kazakh Variation.”
In the modern era, elite players such as Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik, and Magnus Carlsen have all employed 5.h3 as a practical weapon to avoid the sharper Classical lines of the King’s Indian.
Illustrative Game
Kasparov – Kramnik, Linares 1994
Kasparov’s early g4 thrust—made possible by the advance h2-h3—quickly secured space on the kingside and led to a powerful initiative that ultimately decided the game.
Practical Tips
- For White
- Do not delay castling too long; a premature g4 can backfire against …c6 and …d5 breaks.
- Against …Na6, be ready for c7-c6 followed by …cxd5—react with Be3 or dxe6 at the right moment.
- The bishop usually belongs on e3, but Bg5 is a strong temporary pin if Black has not played …h6.
- For Black
- Use the …a5 lever to slow down White’s queenside expansion and create counterplay on the a-file.
- Prepare …f5 carefully—often …Nh5 or …Ne8 precedes the break, since …Bg4 is unavailable.
- A timely …c6 can undermine White’s d5-pawn and open the long diagonal for the g7-bishop.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The variation’s name became semi-official when the Kazakh Chess Federation sponsored a thematic tournament in 1972 where every game started with 5.h3.
- Garry Kasparov once called 5.h3 “the universal solvent” against the King’s Indian—because it dissolves Black’s usual …Bg4 pin.
- Magnus Carlsen has adopted the line in rapid and blitz play to sidestep deeply analyzed Mar del Plata main lines.
- The move 5.h3 inspired parallel ideas in other openings—e.g., the Grünfeld’s 4.h3 Anti-Grünfeld and the Najdorf with 6.h3 (the “Anti-Najdorf”).
Summary
The Kazakh Variation (5.h3) offers White a solid yet flexible system that restricts Black’s typical counterplay while retaining options for both quiet maneuvering and sharp kingside expansion. Its rich strategic content and relative freshness at the highest level ensure it will remain a useful weapon for years to come.