Kings Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack
King's Indian Defense – Four Pawns Attack
Definition
The Four Pawns Attack is one of the sharpest and most ambitious variations against the King's Indian Defense. After the moves 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4, White establishes an enormous pawn phalanx on c4–d4–e4–f4, intending to squeeze Black in the center and launch a direct kingside offensive. Black, in turn, aims to undermine this center with pawn breaks (…c5, …e5, …f5) and exploit the long-term weaknesses the advance may create.
Main Move-Order
- 1. d4 Nf6
- 2. c4 g6
- 3. Nc3 Bg7
- 4. e4 d6
- 5. f4 Four Pawns Attack
From here the principal continuations for Black are:
- 5…0-0 6. Nf3 c5 (classical counter in the center)
- 5…0-0 6. Nf3 Na6 (the Panno set-up)
- 5…c5!? (immediate challenge, often transposing)
- 5…e5?! (riskier; can transpose to Benoni-type structures)
Strategic Themes
- Central Space vs. Flexibility: White’s four pawns claim huge territorial advantage but create long-term targets on d4 and e4.
- Pawn Breaks: Black must time …c5, …e5, or …f5 to undermine the center; White often replies with d5 (gaining space) or e5/f5 (attacking the kingside).
- Piece Placement: White typically uses Be3, Nf3, Bd3, and Qd2 or Qe1–h4 to support a kingside thrust. Black reroutes pieces (Na6–c7–e6 or Nd7–f6) and applies pressure on d4/c4.
- Endgame Considerations: If Black survives the middlegame, the advanced pawns can become overextended and weak in endings.
Historical & Modern Practice
• Early Experiments: Frank Marshall and David Janowski flirted with the system in the 1910s.
• Golden Age (1950-70s): David Bronstein, Bobby Fischer, and Bent Larsen employed it as an aggressive surprise weapon.
• Computer Era: Alexei Shirov, Alexander Shabalov, and Hikaru Nakamura have kept the line alive,
while engines confirm that Black can hold with accurate play but must walk a tactical tightrope.
Illustrative Example
A well-known attacking display is Shabalov-Shirov, Linares 1994. After a typical pawn storm White’s center rolled forward to e5-f5, crashing through on g6. The following instructive line shows common motifs:
Notice how:
– White leverages the pawn mass with f5 and e5 to open lines.
– Black’s premature …Re8xe4 grabs a pawn but yields critical
dark-square weaknesses.
– The sacrificial motif Nxf7! often appears when Black’s king sits on f7 after …Kxf7.
Typical Plans in Practice
- For White
- Complete development quickly (Nf3, Be2, 0-0).
- Advance e5 or f5 to open kingside files.
- Sacrifice material (often a pawn or exchange) to maintain the initiative.
- For Black
- Undermine the pawn chain with …c5 and/or …e6-e5.
- Exchange minor pieces to reduce attacking potential.
- Target d4 and e4 once the center is fixed.
Interesting Facts & Anecdotes
- The line was banned (!) in several 1920s correspondence events because organizers believed games would become “too violent.”
- Garry Kasparov analyzed the Four Pawns Attack deeply as a youth, but later concluded “Black equals the chaos – with courage.”
- In 2015, engine matchups suggested the provocative 5…c5!? as the most resilient; since then, top GMs have sprinkled it into their repertoires.
When to Use the Four Pawns Attack
Choose it when you crave hand-to-hand tactical combat and are comfortable shouldering structural risk for dynamic chances. In rapid and blitz, the sheer complexity often yields practical dividends, but be prepared—if the attack fizzles, the endgame may belong to Black.