Kings Indian Defense Averbakh Variation
King’s Indian Defense — Averbakh Variation
Definition
The Averbakh Variation is a branch of the King’s Indian Defense (KID) that arises after the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5. Named after the Soviet grandmaster and end-game theoretician Yuri Averbakh, the line is characterised by White’s early dark-square bishop pin on g5. By depriving Black of the thematic …e7-e5 break and putting long-term pressure on the d8-h4 diagonal, White aims for a restrained, strategic duel rather than the razor-sharp pawn storms seen in the main line KID.
Typical Move-Order
The most common sequence reaches the variation via:
- 1. d4 Nf6
- 2. c4 g6
- 3. Nc3 Bg7
- 4. e4 d6
- 5. Be2 O-O
- 6. Bg5 (Averbakh Variation)
Sometimes White delays Be2 and plays 5. Nf3 first, or Black postpones castling. The defining move is always White’s Bg5, pinning the f6-knight.
Strategic Themes
- Dark-Square Domination: With the knight on f6 constrained, Black struggles to achieve …e5 and must look for counterplay with …c5 or …Na6-c5 instead.
- Flexible Center: White can keep the tension with d4-d5, exchange on e5, or even prepare f2-f4 without fear of Black’s usual kingside pawn storms.
- Structural Asymmetry: If Black plays …h6 and …g5 to chase the bishop, the kingside pawn structure becomes vulnerable, giving White targets on the dark squares.
- Piece Play over Pawn Storms: Unlike the classical Mar del Plata battles, both sides manoeuvre pieces for many moves before committing pawn breaks.
Historical Context
Yuri Averbakh championed the variation in the early 1950s, demonstrating that quiet, prophylactic play could blunt
the KID’s feared attacking chances. His successes against contemporaries such as Boleslavsky and Geller made the
line a staple of Soviet opening theory. Although less fashionable during the Kasparov era (when sharper lines were
preferred), the variation remains a reliable weapon for players who like positional anesthesia
before striking.
Model Game Snapshot
In the following miniature PGN you can click through the opening phase of a classical encounter that shows the main strategic ideas:
The game Averbakh – Geller, USSR Championship 1953, continued with a timely 14. h5! and White took over the initiative when Black’s queen strayed to a5.
Plans for White
- Maintain the pin with Bg5 and follow with Qd2, preventing …e5.
- Play d4-d5 when Black prepares …c5, gaining space and fixing the center.
- Expand on the kingside with f2-f4 (after Nf3 unpins) or h2-h4-h5, exploiting any weakening …h6 and …g5 by Black.
- Exchange dark-square bishops via Bh6 if the position favours an end-game where Black’s light-squared bishop is passive.
Plans for Black
- Counter in the centre with …c5 and rapid piece pressure on d4 after …Qa5 or …Qb6.
- Break the pin with …h6 and …g5, accepting structural looseness in return for dynamic chances.
- Re-route the queen’s knight via a6-c5 to strike at d3-b4 and support …e6 or …f5 breaks.
- If White closes the centre with d5, consider the pawn lever …f5 to undermine e4.
Common Tactical Motifs
Although primarily strategic, the Averbakh contains several recurring tactics:
- Exchange Sacrifice on c3: …Bxc3+ followed by …Nxe4 can appear after White has castled queenside.
- Dark-Square Exploits: After …h6 Bg5h4 g5, the f5 square may become a powerful outpost for White’s knight.
- Pin-Based Tactics: The lingering pin on f6 often enables tricks such as e4-e5 undermining a knight on f6 or winning material on e7.
Illustrative Statistics
According to major databases (2023), the Averbakh Variation scores roughly 55 % for White in master play, slightly above the KID average. In rapid and blitz, its surprise value improves White’s practical chances even further.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Yuri Averbakh, now remembered largely for his end-game books, used his namesake line to secure a plus score against the King’s Indian over his entire career.
- In 1993, Garry Kasparov chose the Averbakh (as Black!) against Viswanathan Anand in Linares, showing that even the world champion trusted the structure from the opposite side.
- The pin on f6 inspired the nickname
the mosquito
among Soviet players — small but irritating, constantly buzzing around Black’s king.
Further Study Tips
Players wishing to add the Averbakh to their repertoire should:
- Memorise the main forcing line 6. Bg5 h6 7. Be3 c5 8. d5 e6 9. dxe6 Bxe6 to understand piece placement.
- Analyse modern games by Peter Svidler and Sergey Karjakin, two elite GMs who revived the line in the 2010s.
- Practise typical end-games with opposite-coloured bishops where the better structure often tells.