Learn the King's Indian Defense

E60-E99 · a repertoire for black · 9 chapters · 49 annotated lines

"Attack the king at all costs"

The King's Indian Defense is one of the most dynamic and combative openings in chess. Black allows White to build a broad pawn center with d4, c4, and e4, then strikes back with ...e5 or ...c5 to undermine it. The fianchettoed bishop on g7 becomes a monster once the center opens. Legends like Kasparov and Fischer used the KID to win some of the most brilliant attacking games ever played. Expect sharp middlegames with chances for both sides.

What's inside

• Chapter 1: The King's Indian Setup
  Lines: The KID Formation
• Chapter 2: The Four Pawns Attack
  Lines: Four Pawns: The Benoni Break, Four Pawns: The Modern 6.Nf3, Four Pawns: The Greedy 6.dxc5
• Chapter 3: The Averbakh System (Bg5)
  Lines: Averbakh: The Solid ...Bf5 System, Averbakh: The ...d5 Grunfeld Approach, Averbakh: The Ne4 Gambit Line
• Chapter 4: The Classical Main Line
  Lines: Mar del Plata: The Great Race, The Bayonet: 9.b4, The 9.Nd2 System: Slow Squeeze, The Exchange Variation: Harmless Simplification, Gligoric System: 7.Be3 exd4, Petrosian System: 7.d5 a5, Mar del Plata: The Race in Full, Bayonet: The 10.g3 System, Classical: 8.Be3 and the ...Nxe4 Trick, Classical: The 6.Bd3 Setup
• Chapter 5: The Sämisch (5.f3)
  Lines: Sämisch: The Modern 6...c5!, Sämisch Gambit Accepted: 7.dxc5, Sämisch: 7.d5 Benoni Wall, Sämisch: The 6.Bg5 Attacking Try
• Chapter 6: The Fianchetto Variation
  Lines: Fianchetto: The Panno Attack, Panno Deeper: The ...b5 Break Lands, Fianchetto: The Panno vs 8.h3
• Chapter 7: Your KID vs the System Openings
  Lines: vs the London: ...d6 and ...e5 Anyway, vs the Torre: ...h6 and ...g5!, vs the Colle: ...d6 and the e5 Grip, vs the Trompowsky: 2.Bg5 Ne4!, vs the Quiet Torre: Same Plan, Slower White, vs the Jobava London: ...d5 First
• Chapter 8: The Averbakh Proper & Makogonov
  Lines: Averbakh: The ...c5 Benoni Break, Averbakh: 7.dxc5 and the ...Qa5 Regain, The Makogonov System (5.h3)
• Chapter 9: Rare Fifth Moves — h4, Bd3, Nge2
  Lines: The h4 Lunge: 5.h4, The Bd3 Setup: 5.Bd3, The Hungarian 5.Nge2

Free sample: the main line, move by move

• 1. d4 — 1.d4 — White opens with the queen's pawn, aiming for a broad center with c4 and e4.
• 1... Nf6 — 1...Nf6 — the King's Indian move. Black develops the knight toward the center and prevents 2.e4 immediately. This flexible move keeps all Indian Defense systems on the table.
• 2. c4 — 2.c4 — White claims more central space. Together with d4, these pawns form a strong pawn duo controlling d5 and e5.
• 2... g6 — 2...g6 — the signature King's Indian move. Black prepares to fianchetto the bishop to g7, where it will become a powerful long-range piece aiming at the center and queenside.
• 3. Nc3 — 3.Nc3 — White develops the knight to its best square, reinforcing the center and preparing e4.
• 3... Bg7 — 3...Bg7 — the King's Indian bishop takes the long diagonal. This piece is the heart of Black's position: it pressures d4, eyes the queenside, and becomes devastating once the center opens.
• 4. e4 — 4.e4 — White builds the full pawn center. Three central pawns on c4, d4, and e4 control a lot of space, but Black has a clear plan to challenge them.
• 4... d6 — 4...d6 — Black completes the King's Indian formation. This modest pawn move supports ...e5 and keeps the position flexible. The KID tabiya is reached: from here, White's choice of 5th move determines the entire character of the game.

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