Kings Indian Defense: Samisch Bobotsov Korchnoi Petrosian
King's Indian Defense
Definition & Typical Move-Order
The King’s Indian Defense (often abbreviated “KID”) is a hyper-modern response to 1.d4 in which Black allows White to occupy the center with pawns, planning to undermine it later with pawn breaks and piece pressure. A standard move sequence is:
- 1.d4 Nf6
- 2.c4 g6
- 3.Nc3 Bg7
- 4.e4 d6
- (…O-O, …e5 or …c5 will follow, depending on the variation)
How It Is Used
Black fianchettoes the king-side bishop, castles early, and maintains a flexible pawn structure. The opening frequently leads to rich, double-edged middlegames where pawn storms on opposite flanks are common (White on the queenside; Black on the kingside).
Strategic Significance
- Central Tension: White’s broad pawn center (d4–e4) vs. Black’s piece pressure.
- Pawn Breaks: Black strikes with …e5, …c5, or …f5; White often counters with c5, b4–b5, or d5.
- King-side Attacks: The fianchettoed bishop, knight maneuvers (…Nf6–d7–f6–g4), and pawn storms (…f5–f4–g5) give Black attacking chances.
Historical Notes & Famous Games
The KID rose to prominence in the 1940s–50s thanks to players like David Bronstein, Isaac Boleslavsky, and later Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov. Kasparov’s multiple King’s Indian wins against Anatoly Karpov (e.g., World Championship 1985, G16) remain classics.
Example Mini-Game
Interesting Facts
- Kasparov once quipped that the King’s Indian was “the opening of champions” because World Champions from Tal through Kasparov all used it as Black.
- Computer engines long disliked the KID’s cramped center, yet modern neural-net engines often rate it close to equal, vindicating its practical strength.
Sämisch Variation (King’s Indian)
Definition & Move-Order
Named after German GM Friedrich Sämisch, this aggressive system features an early f-pawn advance bolstering the e4-pawn and preparing g2-g4.
- 1.d4 Nf6
- 2.c4 g6
- 3.Nc3 Bg7
- 4.e4 d6
- 5.f3 (the hallmark Sämisch move)
- 5…O-O
- 6.Be3 (main line)
Usage & Plans
- White strengthens the center and often castles long, launching a pawn storm (g4–h4–h5) on the king side.
- Black chooses between several set-ups: the Panno (…Nc6), …c5 Benoni-style strikes, or immediate …e5.
Strategic Themes
- Center vs. Counterplay: White grabs space; Black counters with flank breaks.
- Opposite-side Castling: Very sharp positions arise after 0-0-0 by White.
- Light-Square Battles: The fianchetto bishop on g7 eyes d4 and e5; White’s dark-square bishop from e3 eyes h6 and g7.
Famous Example
Kasparov – Shirov, Horgen 1994 saw a classic Sämisch king-side pawn storm ending in a picturesque mating net.
Fun Facts
- Sämisch popularized the line in the 1920s, but the variation truly exploded after Fischer used it to beat Cardoso (Havana 1965) in only 21 moves.
- The move 5.f3 looks “anti-developmental”, yet databases show a healthy 55% score for White at master level.
Bobotsov Variation (Sämisch-Bobotsov)
Definition
Named after Bulgarian GM Milko Bobotsov, this line counters the Sämisch by immediately challenging the d4–c4 pawn chain with …c5, sometimes transposing into Benoni structures.
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Be3 c5 (Bobotsov move)
Plans & Ideas
- Benoni Flair: After 7.dxc5 dxc5 Black gets active piece play on an open b-file and e5 break.
- Flexible Center: If White closes with 7.d5, Black can follow with …e6 or …a6–b5 undermining c4.
Historical & Strategic Significance
The variation appealed to fighters such as Viktor Korchnoi in the 1960s. Its early …c5 sidesteps some of White’s most dangerous long-castle attacking plans by opening the position before White is ready.
Illustrative Mini-Game
Did You Know?
- Bobotsov employed the line to defeat future World Champion Spassky in a 1967 training game, prompting increased elite interest.
- Engine evaluations often fluctuate wildly in the Bobotsov, underscoring its complexity; one wrong pawn push can swing the balance by a full piece.
Korchnoi Variation (Sämisch-Korchnoi)
Definition & Core Moves
The Korchnoi Variation begins with a provocative knight leap to a6, preparing …c5 under favorable circumstances and eyeing b4.
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Be3 Na6 (Korchnoi’s idea)
Strategic Aims
- Flexible Knight: From a6 the knight can reroute via c5 or b4, harassing White’s queenside expansion.
- Delayed c5: Black withholds …c5 until the ideal moment, sometimes supported by …c6 or …e5.
- Rapid Queenside Play: …a6–b5 forces White to decide between castling long (risking attack) or keeping the king in the center.
Origins & Famous Games
Viktor Korchnoi unveiled the setup against Tigran Petrosian in the 1962 USSR Championship, drawing a complicated struggle. He later refined it versus Anatoly Karpov in Candidates matches.
Sample Continuation
Trivia
- Many databases still label 6…Na6 as a “sideline,” yet it scores above 50% for Black in top-level practice.
- Korchnoi once remarked that the knight “only looks silly on a6 until it lands triumphantly on d3.”
Petrosian Variation (King’s Indian, Classical)
Definition & Essential Moves
Tigran Petrosian’s signature system against the King’s Indian avoids immediate central tension by locking the center with d4–d5, then maneuvering patiently.
- 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.d5 (Petrosian move)
Main Ideas
- Space Restriction: The pawn on d5 cramps Black’s pieces and takes the e6 square.
- Prophylaxis: Petrosian delayed or even avoided c4-c5, instead improving pieces, playing Ne1–d3, or h2-h3, stifling Black’s kingside counterplay.
- Queenside Expansion: b4–c5 later in the middlegame seizes more space once preparations are complete.
Historical Importance
Petrosian used the line with great success in the 1963 World Championship versus Botvinnik. Its solid nature inspired a generation of positional players, including Karpov.
Classic Encounter
Petrosian – Spassky, World Championship 1966, Game 10. Petrosian’s queenside minority attack forced Spassky into a passive defense, leading to a textbook squeeze.
Example Fragment
Fun Facts
- Petrosian reportedly prepared the variation by analyzing more than 1,000 King’s Indian games from Soviet archives.
- Modern engines sometimes give Black equality, yet elite grandmasters continue to trust the Petrosian for its practical “no-risk” nature.