King's Indian Defense
You play Black · 69 variations
Mixed practice
The machine picks a different variation every time.
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10 positions: find the next theory move in each. No take-backs, no hints.
Main variations · 55
- Orthodox Variation, Positional Defense, Main LineE961. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Re1 c6 9. Bf1 a59 moves
- Orthodox Variation, Classical System, Kozul GambitE981. 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. Be3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bf2 g5 13. Rc1 Ng6 14. c514 moves
- Orthodox Variation, Classical System, Benko AttackE991. 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. f3 f5 11. g411 moves
- Orthodox Variation, Bayonet Attack, Sokolov's LineE971. 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. b4 Nh5 10. Re110 moves
- Orthodox Variation, Bayonet Attack, Yepishin's LineE971. 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. b4 Nh5 10. Qc210 moves
- Orthodox Variation, Korchnoi AttackE971. 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. Bd29 moves
- Orthodox Variation, Modern SystemE971. 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. Nd29 moves
- Orthodox Variation, Positional Defense, Closed LineE941. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. d58 moves
- Orthodox Variation, Donner DefenseE941. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O c67 moves
- Orthodox Variation, Glek DefenseE941. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Na67 moves
- Orthodox Variation, Ukrainian DefenseE941. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O a57 moves
- Orthodox Variation, Gligoric-Taimanov SystemE921. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. Be37 moves
- Sämisch Variation, Closed Variation, Main LineE891. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 c6 8. d5 cxd58 moves
- Sämisch Variation, Panno Main LineE841. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nc6 7. Nge2 a6 8. Qd2 Rb88 moves
- Sämisch Variation, Orthodox Variation, Bronstein VariationE871. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Nh5 8. Qd2 Qh4+ 9. g3 Nxg3 10. Qf2 Nxf1 11. Qxh4 Nxe3 12. Ke2 Nxc412 moves
- Sämisch Variation, Sämisch Gambit AcceptedE811. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Bxc59 moves
- Sämisch Variation, Byrne DefenseE811. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c6 7. Bd3 a67 moves
- Sämisch Variation, Closed VariationE881. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 c67 moves
- Sämisch Variation, Ruban VariationE831. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 Nc6 7. Nge2 Rb87 moves
- Sämisch Variation, Double FianchettoE821. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 b66 moves
- Sämisch Variation, Bobotsov-Korchnoi-Petrosian VariationE811. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Nge26 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Classical Main LineE691. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. e4 c6 9. h39 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Panno Variation, Donner LineE631. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nc6 7. Nc3 a6 8. d5 Na5 9. Nd2 c5 10. Qc2 Rb8 11. b3 b5 12. Bb2 bxc4 13. bxc4 Bh613 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Long VariationE681. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. e4 Re8 9. h3 exd4 10. Nxd4 Nc5 11. Re1 a511 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Panno Variation, Blockade LineE631. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nc6 7. Nc3 a6 8. d5 Na5 9. Nd2 c5 10. Qc2 e510 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Panno Variation, Korchnoi LineE631. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nc6 7. Nc3 a6 8. h3 Rb8 9. Be3 b5 10. Nd210 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Yugoslav Variation, Exchange LineE651. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O c5 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. dxc5 dxc58 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Double Fianchetto AttackE641. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 d6 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. b38 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Yugoslav Variation, Advance LineE661. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O c5 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. d58 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Benjamin DefenseE611. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 c6 7. O-O Qb67 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Hungarian VariationE641. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 d6 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 a67 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Kavalek DefenseE621. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O c6 7. Nc3 Qa57 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Larsen DefenseE621. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 c6 7. O-O Bf57 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Lesser Simagin (Spassky)E621. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Bf57 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Simagin VariationE621. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. O-O Bg47 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Uhlmann-Szabo SystemE621. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nc6 7. Nc3 e57 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Yugoslav Variation, Rare LineE641. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 c56 moves
- Fianchetto Variation, Pterodactyl VariationE641. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 Qa5+5 moves
- Averbakh Variation, Main LineE751. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 e67 moves
- Averbakh Variation, Modern Defense, Burgess LineE731. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 Na6 7. Qd2 c67 moves
- Averbakh Variation, Benoni Defense, Exchange VariationE741. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. dxc57 moves
- Averbakh Variation, Flexible DefenseE731. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 h66 moves
- Averbakh Variation, Geller DefenseE731. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 Nbd76 moves
- Averbakh Variation, Nc6 DefenseE731. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 Nc66 moves
- Averbakh Variation, Spanish DefenseE731. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 a66 moves
- Four Pawns Attack, Exchange VariationE791. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. Be2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nc6 9. Be39 moves
- Four Pawns Attack, Florentine GambitE771. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Be2 exd5 9. e59 moves
- Four Pawns Attack, Modern DefenseE761. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 Na65 moves
- Six Pawns AttackE771. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. dxe6 fxe6 9. g4 Nc6 10. h410 moves
- Petrosian Variation, Keres DefenseE931. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 Nbd7 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh5 11. h411 moves
- Petrosian Variation, Stein DefenseE921. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 a57 moves
- Semi-Classical Variation, Exchange VariationE611. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. dxe5 dxe58 moves
- Semi-Classical Variation, Queenside Storm LineE611. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. b48 moves
- Semi-Classical Variation, Benoni VariationE601. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Be2 c66 moves
- Semi-Classical Variation, Hollywood VariationE601. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e3 d6 6. Be2 Nc66 moves
Other variations · 14
- Steiner AttackE811. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Qd2 exd5 9. Nxd59 moves
- Steiner AttackE811. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Qd2 h6 9. Bxh69 moves
- Steiner AttackE811. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 h6 8. Bf48 moves
- Accelerated Averbakh VariationE701. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bg55 moves
- Exchange VariationE921. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. dxe57 moves
- Karpov SystemE711. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Be36 moves
- Kazakh VariationE911. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 Na66 moves
- Kramer VariationE701. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nge25 moves
- Larsen VariationE901. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be36 moves
- Pomar SystemE721. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 e5 7. Nge27 moves
- Santasiere VariationE601. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. b44 moves
- Semi-Averbakh SystemE731. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Be36 moves
- Smyslov VariationE611. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. Bg55 moves
- Zinnowitz VariationE901. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bg56 moves
What is the King's Indian Defense?
The King's Indian Defense starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6. Black allows White a big pawn centre, castles quickly behind the fianchettoed bishop and then strikes at the centre with ...e5 or ...c5. It is one of the most dynamic answers to 1.d4, a mainstream fighting defence played at every level and famously favoured by Fischer and Kasparov.
Main ideas and plans
The main line is the Orthodox Variation. After 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 the centre is locked and the game becomes a race: you move the f6 knight to d7, e8 or h5, push ...f5 and ...f4, and attack the white king with ...g5 and ...g4, while White breaks through on the queenside with c5, often prepared by b4 (the Bayonet Attack) or by knight manoeuvres via e1 or d2. Instead of locking the centre, you can also keep it flexible with ...Nbd7, ...c6 and ...exd4, or with ...Na6, aiming for piece play against the e4 pawn.
The Sämisch Variation, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Be3, protects e4 with the f-pawn and often leads to opposite-side castling, with White attacking by g4 and h4. Here you choose between ...e5, ...c5 and the Panno plan with ...Nc6, ...a6, ...Rb8 and ...b5 for queenside counterplay. In the Fianchetto Variation, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 d6 6.O-O, White plays positionally and your kingside attack is less direct, so central play with ...e5 and ...exd4 or the Panno set-up with ...Nc6 and ...a6 is the usual approach.
Who is it for?
The King's Indian suits dynamic, ambitious players who accept a space disadvantage in exchange for counterattacking chances and enjoy sharp, double-edged positions. It requires a good feel for timing: if your kingside attack is too slow, White's queenside play can crash through first. The theory in the main lines is heavy, so start with the plans. Also know the Exchange line, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8, where White trades queens early hoping for a small, risk-free edge; you should be comfortable defending such endgames.