King's Indian Attack: Keres Variation
King's Indian Attack – Keres Variation
Definition
The King's Indian Attack (KIA) – Keres Variation is a branch of the flexible King's Indian Attack in which White follows the familiar set-up (Nf3, g3, Bg2, d3, 0-0, Nbd2, e4) but does so against an early …c5 by Black. The variation is named after the great Estonian grandmaster Paul Keres, who employed and analysed this structure extensively in the 1950s. A tabiya can be reached by several move orders; a popular one is:
Typical move order (ECO A07/A08):
1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. 0-0 e5 5. d3 Nf6 6. Nbd2
Strategic Ideas
- Fixed central tension: White keeps the pawn on d3 (rather than d4) so that Black's pawn on e5 cannot be exchanged easily. This invites Black to over-extend in the centre, after which White strikes with e2-e4 or c2-c4.
- Typical pawn lever f2-f4: In many Keres-Variation games White eventually plays f4, undermining e5 and opening lines for the king-side initiative.
- Piece placement: Knights usually land on d2 and f1 (via h4 or e3), bishops aim at the long diagonal (g2-a8), and rooks swing to the g- or h-files once the pawn storm begins.
- Black’s counterplay: …d4 or …c4 space-gaining thrusts, minority attacks with …b5-b4, or a direct king-side expansion with …h5–h4 if White delays f2-f4.
Historical and Theoretical Significance
Although the KIA had already been used by Réti and Barcza, it was Paul Keres
who forged a coherent plan against the …c5 + …Nc6 + …e5 set-up.
His wins with the system—especially in Soviet Championships—popularised the
line among players who preferred a system
opening over heavy
memorisation. Bobby Fischer later adopted the same ideas, citing Keres as an
influence.
Illustrative Game
The following miniature shows how quickly White's latent pressure can explode.
[[Pgn| 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.O-O e5 5.d3 Nf6 6.e4 d4 7.Nbd2 Be7 8.Nc4 Qc7 9.a4 O-O 10.Ne1 Be6 11.b3 Nd7 12.f4 f6 13.f5 Bf7 14.g4 a6 15.h4 b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Rxa8 Rxa8 18.Na3 Qb7 19.g5 c4 20.g6 hxg6 21.fxg6 Bxg6 22.Qg4| fen|r3r1k1/1qnbbpp1/2n1fpb1/1pppF3/2PpP1QP/N2P3P/5PB1/R1N2NK1 b - - 0 22| arrows|f1e3,g3g6,f5f6,e4e5|squares|g6,f6,g7,e5 ]]
(Keres – Tolush, USSR Championship 1951, shortened for clarity.)
After 22.Qg4! White's pieces flood the king-side, a theme characteristic of
the variation.
Typical Plans for Both Sides
- White
- Prepare e4 and/or f4 breaks.
- Exchange Black’s dark-squared bishop (often by Nh4-f5 ideas).
- Pawn storms with h4-h5 or g4-g5 once the centre is closed.
- Black
- Seize space with …d4 or …c4, cramping the Bg2.
- Counter-attack on the queen side with …b5-b4, especially if White has played a4 prematurely.
- Timely piece exchanges (…Be6, …Qc8) to blunt the g2-bishop.
Famous Practitioners
- Paul Keres – originator and chief analyst.
- Bobby Fischer – employed it to score 8/9 in the 1967 Sousse Interzonal.
- Garry Kasparov – used the structure occasionally as a surprise weapon.
- Modern adherents: Wesley So, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and many rapid/blitz specialists who value its anti-theory character.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- In pre-computer days the line was considered
quiet
. Today engines often show wild swings after a single inaccurate central push, proving Keres' early instinct about its latent dynamism. - Fischer jokingly called the KIA his
Swiss army knife
; he would wheel it out whenever he wanted “a fighting game without reams of preparation.” - The variation can be reached from openings as diverse as the Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3), the French (1.e4 e6 2.d3), and even the English (1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Nf3 c5), making it a transpositional minefield for the unprepared.
Common Pitfalls
- For White: Automatic Nbd2 without controlling …e4 can allow Black …e4! shutting the bishop. Coordinate e2-e4 first.
- For Black: Indiscriminate queenside expansion (…b5) can leave c5 weak and the king stranded after White's f4-f5 break.
Conclusion
The Keres Variation of the King's Indian Attack combines positional flexibility with lethal king-side attacking potential. Its rich transpositional nature and clear strategic themes make it a favourite choice for club players and grandmasters alike who wish to avoid heavy theory yet still fight for the initiative.