Kings Indian Defense Averbakh Flexible Defense
King’s Indian Defense
Definition
The King’s Indian Defense (KID) is a hyper-modern opening that arises after the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6. Black allows White to occupy the center with pawns and then strikes back later with breaks such as …e5 or …c5. Its ECO codes are E60-E99.
Typical Move-Order
- 1.d4 Nf6
- 2.c4 g6
- 3.Nc3 Bg7
- 4.e4 d6
- 5.Nf3 O-O
- 6.Be2 e5 or 6…c5 (many branches)
Strategic Themes
- Dark-Square Control: Black fights for the e5-square and the long diagonal h8–a1.
- Pawn Storms: In the famous “Mar del Plata” variation, opposite-wing attacks arise: Black pushes …f5/…g5 while White advances on the queenside with b4-b5.
- Piece Play over Pawns: Hyper-modern philosophy: delay central pawn occupation, emphasize piece activity.
- Flexibility: Black can choose between …e5, …c5, or even …b5 setups depending on White’s scheme.
Historical Significance
The KID became popular in the 1940s–50s thanks to Soviet grandmasters Isaac Boleslavsky and David Bronstein. Bobby Fischer made it fashionable in the 1960s, and Garry Kasparov turned it into a mainstay of his World Championship repertoire in the 1980s–90s. Its double-edged nature continues to attract dynamic players such as Teimour Radjabov and Hikaru Nakamura.
Illustrative Game
[[Pgn| 1.d4|Nf6|2.c4|g6|3.Nc3|Bg7|4.e4|d6|5.Nf3|O-O|6.Be2|e5|7.O-O|Nc6|8.d5|Ne7|9.b4|a5|10.Ba3|axb4|11.Bxb4|Nd7|12.a4|f5|13.Ng5|Nf6|14.f3|Bh6|15.Ne6|Bxe6|16.dxe6|Be3+|17.Kh1|Nh5|18.Nd5|Nxd5|19.cxd5|Qh4|20.Be1|Qe7|21.a5|c6|22.a6|cxd5|23.exd5|bxa6|24.Rxa6|Rab8|25.Ra3|Qg5|26.Rc3|Bd4|27.Rc7|Nf4|28.Bg3|Nh5|29.Qe1|Nxg3+|30.Qxg3|Qd8|31.Rd7|Qg5|32.Qxg5|Rxd7|33.exd7|Bf6|34.Qd2|Rf7|35.Bb5|Bd8|36.Rc1|Kg7|37.Rc8|Bb6|38.d8=Q|Bxd8|39.Rxd8|Ra7|40.h4|e4|41.Qd4+|Kh6|42.Qxa7| 1-0 |arrows|e2e4,g7g5|squares|e5,d4]]This wild encounter from “Kasparov – Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999” exhibits the KID’s trademark piece activity and tactical richness.
Interesting Facts
- Deep Blue’s programmers deliberately avoided the KID because they feared the unbalanced middlegames it creates against humans.
- Fischer scored +19 =3 -2 with the KID in classical play, an 82% performance.
- In many languages the opening’s name is simply abbreviated to “India de Rey” (Spanish) or “Rey Indio” (Latin America).
Averbakh Variation (King’s Indian Defense)
Definition
The Averbakh Variation is a line of the King’s Indian Defense characterized by an early Bg5: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Bg5. It is named after the Soviet grandmaster and endgame theoretician Yuri Averbakh, who introduced it in the early 1950s.
Purpose and Strategy
- Pin on the Knight: The bishop on g5 pins the f6-knight to the queen, discouraging the thematic …e5 break.
- Space Restraint: White keeps a firm grip on the center with pawns on d4 & e4, intending f4 or h4 ideas.
- Flexible Center: Depending on Black’s reaction, White can castle short, long, or delay castling entirely.
Main Black Replies
- 6…h6 7.Bh4 c5 – The traditional counter, preparing …cxd4 followed by …Nc6.
- 6…Na6 – A modern approach championed by Kasparov; Black over-protects c7 and prepares …e5 anyway.
- 6…c5 – Immediate tension in the center, seen in many contemporary games.
Historical & Practical Significance
Yuri Averbakh used the line to great effect at the 1953 Candidates Tournament in Zurich, drawing effortlessly against several King’s Indian specialists. The variation temporarily stalled the KID’s popularity until Fischer re-energized Black’s resources in the 1960s.
Notable Example
Grandmaster Victor Korchnoi employed the Averbakh to defeat Garry Kasparov in the 1982 USSR Championship:
[[Pgn| 1.d4|Nf6|2.c4|g6|3.Nc3|Bg7|4.e4|d6|5.Be2|O-O|6.Bg5|c5|7.d5|e6|8.Nf3|exd5|9.cxd5|h6|10.Bh4|Re8|11.Nd2|Na6|12.O-O|Nc7|13.a4|b6|14.Qc2|Ba6|15.Bxa6|Nxa6|16.Rae1|Nb4|17.Qb1|a6|18.f4|Qc7|19.Re2|Rab8|20.Rfe1|b5|21.axb5|axb5|22.Nf3|c4|23.e5|Nfxd5|24.Nxd5|Nxd5|25.exd6|Qc5+|26.Bf2|Qc6|27.Rxe8+|Rxe8|28.Rxe8+|Qxe8|29.Qd1|Nf6|30.Ne5|Qe6|31.d7|Nxd7|32.Qxd7| 1-0]]Interesting Nuggets
- Because the dark-squared bishop leaves the c1–h6 diagonal early, some databases label this as an anti-Grünfeld system as well.
- The Averbakh often transposes into the Benoni-style pawn structure if Black plays …c5 and …e6.
- Modern engines judge the line as “+0.20 to +0.40” for White—solid but not crushing—making it a popular surprise weapon.
Flexible Defense (General Concept)
Definition
“Flexible Defense” is a strategic concept rather than a specific opening: it denotes a defensive setup in which a player intentionally keeps pawn structures and piece placements fluid, delaying commitments until the opponent’s intentions become clear. The idea is to maintain multiple defensive resources—counter-attacks, pawn breaks, or piece maneuvers—so that one can choose the most effective response at the critical moment.
Key Ingredients
- Reserve Pawns: Hold back central pawn breaks (e.g., …d6–d5 or …e6–e5) to adapt to either flank.
- Piece Mobility: Knights on flexible squares (e.g., f6, c6) can hop to e4/d4/f4 or d8/b8 in reaction to threats.
- Concealed King Safety: Sometimes delaying castling (e.g., Najdorf Sicilian) keeps the opponent guessing which wing to attack.
Usage Across Openings
The concept appears in many defenses:
- King’s Indian Defense: Black withholds …e5 or …c5 until the optimal moment (a “flexible” approach).
- Hedgehog System: Black’s pawns on a6, b6, d6, e6 form a coiled spring; the exact break is undecided.
- Slav Defense: By playing …a6 or keeping the c8-bishop undeveloped, Black remains flexible between …dxc4 and …e6.
Illustrative Mini-Example
Consider this simplified position after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6. Black’s last move (…a6) is the essence of flexibility: depending on White’s next turn, Black may choose …e5, …e6, …g6, or …Qc7.
Historical Perspective
The term gained traction in Soviet chess literature of the 1960s, where authors contrasted “rigid” defenses (early fixed pawn chains) with “flexible” ones that emphasize adaptive counter-play. Modern engine evaluations often confirm that maintaining pawn tension boosts practical chances.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Yasser Seirawan calls flexible defense the chess equivalent of Muhammad Ali’s “rope-a-dope”—absorb pressure, then lash out.
- In Kasparov vs. Deep Blue, 1997, Game 2, the computer’s “inflexible” …h6?! and …g5 left its king exposed; Kasparov prevailed with a dynamic sacrificial attack.
- Magnus Carlsen frequently employs flexible setups, even conceding space, to keep winning chances against lower-rated opponents who over-extend.