Mar del Plata: King's Indian Defense Variation
Mar del Plata (Variation of the King’s Indian Defense)
Definition
The “Mar del Plata” is a sharp, highly theoretical branch of the Classical King’s Indian Defense (KID). It typically arises after White plays 9.Ne1 (or 9.Nd2) followed by 10.Nd3, while Black replies with the thematic …f7-f5 pawn thrust. The variation is named after the 1953 international tournament held in the resort city of Mar del Plata, Argentina, where several hard-fought KID games featuring this system captured the imagination of the chess world.
Typical Move Order
A standard sequence is:
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5
7. O-O Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Nd3 f5
From this tabiya, the position explodes into opposite-wing attacks: White storms the queenside with b2-b4-b5-c5, while Black hurls pawns and pieces toward the enemy king with …f5-f4, …g5, …h5, and …g4.
Strategic Themes
- Mutual pawn storms: Both sides lock the center, then race to break through on opposite flanks. Time is of the essence.
- Dark-square battle: Black fights to secure e5–f4–g3, while White aims to dominate c6–d5–e4.
- Piece sacrifice motifs: Standard ideas include …gxf3, …Bxh3, or White’s bxa6 exchange sacrifice to rip open files.
- King safety vs. initiative: Typical games end in mating attacks or decisive material gains—draws are rare at top level.
Historical & Notable Games
- Najdorf – Gligorić, Mar del Plata 1953 – The clash that popularized the line; Gligorić’s kingside attack prevailed after a textbook …g5 storm.
- Kasparov – Karpov, World Championship (Game 16) 1986 – Kasparov unleashed the modern 13.c5!? pawn sacrifice, beating Karpov in a brilliant opposite-wing race.
- Topalov – Radjabov, Wijk aan Zee 2007 – A double rook sacrifice by Radjabov showcased the tactical richness of Black’s attack.
Illustrative Example (Mini-Game)
Position after 15…g5!—Black commits fully to the king hunt.
[[Pgn| d4|Nf6|c4|g6|Nc3|Bg7|e4|d6|Nf3|O-O|Be2|e5|O-O|Nc6|d5|Ne7|Ne1|Nd7|Nd3|f5| f3|f4|Bd2|g5|c5|Ng6|Rc1|Nf6|cxd6|cxd6|Nb5|Rf7 |arrows|g6g5,f4f3|squares|g5,h4,c5 ]]Usage in Modern Chess
The Mar del Plata remains a mainstay repertoire choice for aggressive KID players (e.g., Teimour Radjabov, Hikaru Nakamura). At club level, its clear attacking plans appeal to tactically minded players, but the theory runs deep—both sides must know long forcing lines to avoid walking into prepared novelties.
Interesting Facts
- The line triggered one of the earliest “opening computers” debates when Deep Blue’s predecessor, Deep Thought, chose a timid setup vs. Kasparov, who later joked, “Even machines fear the Mar del Plata.”
- Svetozar Gligorić authored an entire book, “King’s Indian Warfare,” largely inspired by his successes with the variation.
- In several languages, players simply say “the MDP” to shorten the mouthful of “Mar del Plata Variation.”
Take-Away
If you enjoy uncompromising middlegame battles, the Mar del Plata offers some of the sharpest, most historically rich positions in all of chess opening theory—an eternal laboratory for brilliant attacking ideas on both wings.