Kings Indian Defense: Orthodox Glek
King's Indian Defense
Definition
The King’s Indian Defense (KID) is a hyper-modern response to 1.d4 in which Black invites White to occupy the center with pawns and then strikes back with piece pressure and pawn breaks. The canonical move order is:
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7
Black will usually follow with …d6, …0-0 and …e5 or …c5, depending on White’s setup.
Strategic Ideas
- Piece pressure over pawn presence. Black delays central pawn occupation, planning to undermine White’s center later with …e5 or …c5.
- The …f7–f5 pawn thrust. In many variations Black launches a kingside pawn storm, aiming for …f5–f4 and an eventual mating net against White’s king.
- Dynamic imbalances. White often gains space and a queenside initiative (c5, b4, a4–a5) while Black seeks a kingside attack, producing rich, double-edged positions.
Historical Background
The opening was developed by hyper-modern pioneers such as Aaron Nimzowitsch and Efim Bogoljubow in the 1920s. It reached full prominence after World War II thanks to players like David Bronstein, Isaac Boleslavsky, Bobby Fischer (who called it “an opening of kings”), and later Garry Kasparov, who made it a centerpiece of his World-Championship repertoire. Its reputation oscillates with fashion, but it has never disappeared from top-level play because of its fighting character.
Illustrative Mini-Game
After 9.Ne1 the board shows a typical KID tabiya: White has built the classical center (pawns on d5 & e4), while Black is poised for …f7–f5 and a kingside assault. Understanding the tension here is crucial to mastering the entire opening.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- Kasparov used the KID to defeat Anatoly Karpov in the critical 16th game of their 1985 World Championship match, swinging the entire contest in his favor.
- Deep Blue, the IBM computer, refused to play the KID against Kasparov in 1997, preferring “safer” openings perceived as easier for machines to navigate at the time.
- The KID is one of the most common weapons when a player needs a win with Black—its imbalance keeps drawing chances low.
Orthodox Variation (King's Indian Defense)
Definition
The Orthodox, or “Classical,” Variation arises when White develops normally with Nf3 and Be2, castles short, and maintains a broad pawn center. A standard move order is
- 1.d4 Nf6
- 2.c4 g6
- 3.Nc3 Bg7
- 4.e4 d6
- 5.Nf3 0-0
- 6.Be2 e5
This position is one of the main tabiyas of the entire King’s Indian. From here play usually continues 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7, after which plans diverge.
How It Is Used
- For White: Maintain the center with d5 and e4, seek expansion on the queenside (b4, c5) or a slow e4-e5 thrust.
- For Black: Hit back with …f7-f5 (the Mar del Plata line), or challenge the center with …c6 and …d5 via the Petrosian system, or even sidestep with …Na6 leading to the Old-Main Line.
Strategic Significance
The Orthodox Variation is the yardstick against which all other KID systems are measured. Virtually every King’s Indian player, on either side, must master its structures:
- Mar del Plata Attack: Both kings castle short, but opposite wing pawn storms erupt. The position after …f5, …f4, …g5 from Black versus c5, b4, a4 from White is a modern classic.
- Petrosian System (7.d5): White clamps down space; Black maneuvers pieces (…Nbd7, …a5, …Nc5) before deciding where to break.
Example Game
Kasparov vs. Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999 began with the Orthodox Variation and developed into one of the most celebrated attacking games ever, featuring Kasparov’s queen sacrifice 24.Qxh7+!!
Interesting Tidbits
- The sub-line 7...exd4 8.Nxd4 Re8 is colloquially called the Uhlmann-Boleslavsky Variation, even though neither player was primarily a KID specialist.
- Mikhail Tal, famed for tactical fireworks, actually preferred the quieter 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8, steering the game into endgames rich in piece activity.
Glek System / Glek Defense (King's Indian Defense)
Definition
The Glek System—named after Russian Grandmaster Igor Glek—introduces an early h2-h3 by White to restrict Black’s light-squared bishop and prepare g2-g4 in some lines. A popular move order is:
- 1.d4 Nf6
- 2.c4 g6
- 3.Nc3 Bg7
- 4.Nf3 d6 (or 4…0-0 5.h3 d6)
- 5.h3
Compared to the Makagonov (which plays 5.Nf3 0-0 6.h3), Glek’s move order plays h3 before castling, which keeps options flexible: White may castle long, launch g4 quickly, or transpose back to safer structures.
Strategic Features
- Anti-…Bg4 measure. By stopping the pin Be7–g5–h4 or …Bg4, White reduces Black’s piece pressure on the d4 pawn.
- Kingside space grab. The pawn on h3 supports g4, putting immediate questions to Black’s fianchetto.
- Flexible king placement. White can choose 0-0 or 0-0-0 depending on how Black reacts, a psychological weapon in practical play.
Typical Continuations
- 5…0-0 6.e4 e5 7.d5: A Makagonov-style space clamp but with the added resource g4.
- 5…c5 6.d5 e6 7.e4 exd5 8.cxd5 — Benoni structures.
- 5…Nbd7 6.e4 e5 7.g4!? The “Glek Bayonet,” quickly seizing kingside space.
Historical & Practical Notes
- Igor Glek popularized the system in the 1990s, scoring several upsets against established KID experts such as Evgeny Bareev and Peter Svidler.
- Although theory still considers the line objectively sound for Black, it often takes the second player out of familiar main-line territory—valuable in rapid and blitz formats.
- Because White’s h-pawn is already on h3, endgames sometimes favor White: the pawn is closer to h7, making potential passer creation easier.
Illustrative Fragment
After 9.g4 White has clamped the center and begun a kingside pawn storm while Black’s pieces are slightly tangled. This tabiya shows the spirit of the Glek System.
Fun Anecdote
At the 1995 Bundesliga season, GM Glek allegedly joked to teammates, “If my opponent fianchettos, I play h3; if he doesn’t, I still play h3.” The remark cemented his reputation for inventing quirky but poisonous setups revolving around that single pawn move!