Neo-King's Indian | Neo-KID Move Order

Neo-King's Indian

Definition

The Neo-King’s Indian is a family of move-orders that reach a genuine King’s Indian Defence (KID) structure, but only after Black has started with the Modern/Pirc set-up 1…g6 2…Bg7 3…d6. Instead of the classical 1…Nf6, Black postpones the knight development in order to stay flexible and side-step several aggressive anti-KID systems. The most common route is:

1. d4       g6  
2. c4       Bg7  
3. Nc3      d6  
4. e4       Nf6  
5. Nf3      O-O  
6. Be2      e5
    

After move six the position is indistinguishable from a traditional King’s Indian—hence the name “Neo-” (new) King’s Indian: the destination is old, but the journey is new.

Why Players Choose the Neo-KID Move Order

• Avoiding the Anti-KID Arsenal.
  Without an early …Nf6, White cannot pin the knight with Bg5, grab space with f3 (Saemisch), or set up the Torre/London before Black has declared a structure.
• Transpositional Flexibility.
  Black can still fall back on a Modern Defence, Gurgenidze system, or even a Pirc if White plays an early e4 without c4.
• Psychological Surprise.
  Many d-pawn specialists prepare deeply for the main‐line KID. The Neo-KID sends them into less-charted waters first.

Typical Move Order & Branches

The table below shows how the Neo-KID dovetails into well-known KID subsystems:

1. Classical Main Line
   7. O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1
2. Fianchetto Variation
   3.g3 d6 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.O-O Nc6
3. Four Pawns Attack
   Only possible if White hurries with f2-f4 before Black has played …Nf6; the Neo-KID delays that possibility.

Strategic Ideas

• King-Side Counterplay. Just like in the orthodox KID, Black plans …e5 or …c5 breaks followed by …f5, …Nh5–f4, and piece pressure on the h-file or long diagonal.
• Delayed Central Tension. The move order lets Black decide later whether to hit the center with …e5, …c5, or maintain a Pirc-style setup with …Nd7 and …c6.
• Harmonious Piece Placement. By playing …d6 before …Nf6, Black ensures the knight will not block the bishop on g7 when it retreats to e8 or d7 in certain lines (Smyslov ideas).

Model Game

A short illustrative encounter is included below; load it on a board to watch how the delayed …Nf6 helps Black reach familiar KID play without granting White any “free tempo” anti-systems.

Historical Notes

The label “Neo-King’s Indian” appeared in Soviet literature of the 1960s, when players such as Leonid Stein and later Bent Larsen experimented with the flexible …g6 lines against both 1.e4 and 1.d4. It gained additional popularity in the 1990s thanks to practitioners like Evgeny Bareev, Vassily Ivanchuk, and Ilya Smirin, who valued the practical surprise factor.

Interesting Facts & Anecdotes

• Kramnik’s Early Adoption. A young Vladimir Kramnik used the Neo-KID against Anand in the 1994 Intel Grand Prix rapid event, winning a sharp game that started with 1.d4 g6, surprising the Indian number one in his own pet opening!
• Computer Preference. Engines often evaluate the Neo-KID move order a shade higher for White than the main-line KID, yet practical results for Black are statistically identical in master play ([[Chart|Rating|Classical|2000-2023]]).
• Transpositional Minefields. After 1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 White can avoid the KID completely and head into a Pirc/Modern—demonstrating how neither side is forced to show their hand too early.

Related Systems

• Modern Defence
• King's Indian Defence (main lines)
• Pirc Defence
• Neo-Grünfeld (another “Neo” system reached via 1…g6)