Kings Indian Defense Kramer Variation
King’s Indian Defense – Kramer Variation
Definition
The Kramer Variation of the King’s Indian Defense (ECO code E60) arises after the moves:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Bg5
White postpones both the central pawn advance e4 and the development of the g1-knight, choosing instead to pin the f6-knight at once.
Move Order and Typical Tabiya
A very common continuation is:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Bg5 d6 5. e4 O-O 6. Qd2 c5 7. d5 e6
After 7…e6 the position has a traditional King’s Indian structure, but the bishop on g5 subtly alters the usual strategy.
Strategic Ideas for Both Sides
- White
- Pressure on f6: The pin discourages …e5, one of Black’s main breaks.
- Flexible center: Delaying Nf3 keeps the option of f2-f4 (a Samisch-like thrust) and sometimes h2-h4-h5 to chase the g6-bishop.
- Queenside space: After c4-c5 White can seize territory on the queenside more quickly than in many other KID lines.
- Black
- Unpinning by …h6 or …Nbd7: Breaking the pin is often the first order of business.
- Central break …c5: Seen in the tabiya above, …c5 challenges White’s space and may transpose to Benoni-type play.
- Delayed …e5: Black sometimes prepares …e5 only after the pin is neutralised, or sacrifices a pawn with …e5 anyway for dynamic play.
Historical Background
The variation is named after the Dutch master Johannes Hendrikus (Hans) Kramer (1905-1970), who explored early 4.Bg5 systems in the post-World-War-II era. While never a mainstream line, it attracted attention in the 1960s when several grandmasters employed it as a surprise weapon, notably Bent Larsen and Boris Spassky.
Notable Games
- Larsen vs Portisch, Palma de Mallorca 1970
Larsen unleashed 4.Bg5 and initiated a rapid queenside expansion with 10.c5!, eventually out-maneuvering Portisch in a double-edged middlegame. - Spassky vs Forintos, Sousse Interzonal 1967
After 4…d6 5.e4 O-O 6.Qd2 c5, Spassky demonstrated a model bind, showing how the pin on f6 restricts Black’s typical King’s-Indian counterplay.
Typical Plans and Pitfalls
- Plan: h2-h4-h5 – If Black delays …h6, White can gain space on the kingside, forcing …g5 or the loss of the bishop pair.
- Plan: f2-f4 – Especially powerful when Black has committed …e6, leaving the dark squares vulnerable.
- Pitfall for White: Playing c4-c5 too early can leave the d5 square weak if Black is ready with …e6-e5.
- Pitfall for Black: The automatic …e5 can be tactically unsound because the f6-knight is pinned; after dxe5 dxe5 Qxd8 Rxd8 Nd5! the e7-pawn often falls.
Illustrative Mini-Game
[[Pgn| d4|Nf6|c4|g6|Nc3|Bg7|Bg5|d6|e4|O-O|Qd2|c5|d5|e6|f3|exd5|cxd5|Re8|Nge2|a6|a4|Qa5| fen|r4rk1/2nq1pbp/p2p1np1/qpP1P1B1/P3P2P/2N2P2/2PQN1P1/R3KBNR w KQ - 0 15| arrows|g5f6,f6e4|squares|e4,d6 ]]In this line White keeps the initiative; the pin on f6 persists and the dark-square weaknesses around the Black king are illustrated by the highlighted arrows.
Interesting Facts
- Because 4.Bg5 can transpose to Benoni structures after …c5, several opening manuals index the Kramer Variation under both the King’s Indian and Benoni chapters.
- Surprisingly, modern engines suggest the line is fully playable for White, often giving a small plus due to the awkwardly pinned knight.
- The line is occasionally used by correspondence and online blitz specialists as a surprise weapon; opponents aiming for mainstream King’s Indian theory may suddenly find themselves on unfamiliar ground.
- Grandmaster Baadur Jobava, known for his creative openings, revived 4.Bg5 in rapid events in the 2010s, scoring several quick wins against higher-rated opponents.
Summary
The King’s Indian Defense – Kramer Variation is a flexible, under-explored system that sidesteps the heaviest theoretical debates. By pinning the f6-knight immediately, White restricts Black’s customary …e5 break and retains multiple pawn-storm options on both wings. For King’s Indian players, understanding the subtleties of this variation is essential to avoid being caught off guard; for White, it offers an attractive mix of surprise value and solid positional ideas.