King's Indian Attack

The idea

The King's Indian Attack is the King's Indian Defense with the colors reversed and an extra move for White. White plays Nf3, g3, Bg2, O-O, d3, Nbd2 and e4, then often pushes e5 to gain space on the kingside. A typical attack follows with Re1, Nf1, h4 and a knight jump to g5 or h2 and g4.

It works best against Black setups with ...e6 and ...d5, such as the French or a Sicilian with ...e6. Against them White's e5 push cramps Black's kingside, while Black usually attacks on the queenside with ...b5 and ...b4. The race between the two plans decides the game.

A system more than an opening. There is very little theory, and the same plans repeat in most games. It was used by several world champions, Fischer most famously, as a reliable way to reach a middlegame they understood well.

Players who want one setup to play against almost anything, and who like kingside attacks built slowly.

Do not play the setup on autopilot. If Black plays ...e5 and ...d5 with a big center, you may need c4 or exd5 instead of the usual plan.

The main line, move by move

1. 1.Nf3 · White develops a knight first and keeps the pawns flexible. The knight controls e5 and d4, and White keeps every plan open, from g3 and Bg2 to a later d4 or c4.
2. 1...Nf6 · Black mirrors the move: the knight controls e4 and d5 and keeps every setup open. Nothing is committed yet on either side.
3. 2.g3 · White prepares to put the bishop on g2, on the long diagonal that White's own knight on f3 blocks for now. This is the King's Indian Attack setup: Bg2, O-O, d3 and later e4.
4. 2...d5 · Black takes the center with a pawn that the knight guards. The pawn on d5 also stands on the long diagonal that White's bishop is about to use from g2.
5. 3.Bg2 · The bishop reaches g2, where it will guard White's king after castling, which comes next. It aims at d5 through White's own knight on f3, and the pressure is felt once that knight moves or the center opens.
6. 3...e6 · Black supports d5 with a second pawn and opens the way for the king's bishop. A solid setup; White will castle, play d3 and e4, and often attack on the kingside.

Next moves in book

• 2...c5 · Sicilian Variation
• 2...c6
• 2...Bg4 · Keres Variation
• 2...e5 · Omega-Delta Gambit
• 2...g5 · Hungarian Opening: Wiedenhagen-Beta Gambit
• 2...g6 · Double Fianchetto
• 2...Nf6 · King's Indian Attack

A famous game

• Rozman vs Zeneli Spilimbergo Open, Italy (Round 7), 2024

Related openings

• English Opening A10–C20 · 128 named lines
• Ruy Lopez C60–C99 · 200 named lines
• Italian Game C50–C59 · 156 named lines
• Vienna Game C25–C29 · 55 named lines