SECRETS OF THE KING’S INDIAN DEFENSE
TACTICAL THEMES FOR BLACK Black uses many tactical devices to remove pieces or barriers from the enemy position. There are sacrifices available all over the board, from a1 to h3. Starting with the kingside, we’ll examine a bishop sac at h3, a demolition operation at f2, several ways of exploiting weaknesses on the e-f ile, plunking a knight at d3, exploiting the weakness at b2, and even a fine rook sacrifice at a1.
The Killer Chop at h3 The f3-square often finds itself defended only by the bishop, and possible forks against a king at g1 and a rook at e1 or queen at d2 arise frequently. This often involves liberating the f3-square, by sacrificing a bishop at h3. Of course White can decline the sacrifice, but that often proves equally fatal.
203
CARDOZA PUBLISHING • GUFELD & SCHILLER
Brants vs. Veresov Minsk, 1956
cuuuuuuuuC (rDbDrDkD} 7DpDwDpgp} 6wDp$wDpD} 51whwhwDw} &wDPDPDwD} 3DPHwGw)P} 2wDQDN)BD} %DwDw$wIw} ,./9EFJM What is especially interesting about this position is that a combination is used not to force immediate material gain, but rather to eventually obtain a winning endgame.18...Bxh3! 19.b4. White hopes the queen will take the bait, allowing the rook to move to b1 with an attack against the queen, simultaneously escaping the fork at f3. 19.Bxh3 Nf3+ 20.Kf1 Nxe1; 21.Kxe1 Nxe4; 22.Rd3 Nxc3; 23.Nxc3 Qa1+ is all forced, and here 24.Ke2 Bh6 is clearly better for Black. 19...Bxg2!! Surprise!!
cuuuuuuuuC (rDwDrDkD} 7DpDwDpgp} 6wDp$wDpD} 51whwhwDw} &w)PDPDwD} 3DwHwGw)w} 2wDQDN)bD} %DwDw$wIw} ,./9EFJM
Looking at the diagram, picture the knight moving from f3 to e1 to c2. 20.Rb1. 20.bxa5 Nf3+; 21.Kxg2 Nxe1+; 22.Kf1 Nxc2; 23.Bxc5 Rxa5 and Black wins. 20...Bxe4!; 21.Nxe4 Qa4; 22.Qxa4 Nxa4; 23.Nf6+. 23.Rc1 Nb2; 24.c5 Nec4 is also bad for White. 204
SECRETS OF THE KING’S INDIAN DEFENSE
23...Bxf6; 24.Rxf6 Nxc4. White resigned a few moves later. See a number of further examples in Taimanov vs. Najdorf in the Heroes chapter.
Demolition at f2 The f2-square is almost always weak. White usually defends it with a king and a rook, but sometimes the king is driven to f1, in which case the square in front of him is a landmine waiting to explode.
Zhidkov vs. Litvinov Ivano-Frankovsk, 1971
cuuuuuuuuC (rhwDw4kD} 70pDwDwDp} 6wDpGwDpg} 5DwDwDwDw} &wDP)p0nD} 3DwHw)wDw} 2P)wHw)B1} %$wDQ$KDw} ,./9EFJM Black to move
The stage is set for a checkmating ritual, but how can Black break through. The pawn at e4 is hanging, and the rook at f8 is under attack, so Black cannot waste any time. The initial move is typical in cases where there is a rook at f8 and king at f1. 17...Nxf2!!; 18.Qc2. 18.Kxf2 fxe3+; 19.Ke2 Qxg2#. 18...Nh3; 19.Ne2! 19.Ndxe4 fxe3+!; 20.Bxf8 Qg1+; 21.Ke2 Qxg2+; 22.Kd1 Nf2+; 23.Kc1 Bxf8. Black’s pawns are more than enough compensation for the exchange. 19...Nd7. This frees the rook at a8. 20.Qxe4 fxe3+; 21.Bxf8. 21.Nf3 Qxd6; 22.Bxh3 R xf3+!; 23.Qxf3 Rf8; 24.Qxf8+ Qxf8+; 25.Kg2 Qf2+; 26.Kh1 c5; 27.Bxd7 cxd4; 28.Be6+ Kg7 will eventually win for Black, thanks to the four passed pawns. 21...Rxf8+.
205
CARDOZA PUBLISHING • GUFELD & SCHILLER
cuuuuuuuuC (wDwDw4kD} 70pDnDwDp} 6wDpDwDpg} 5DwDwDwDw} &wDP)QDwD} 3DwDw0wDn} 2P)wHNDB1} %$wDw$KDw} ,./9EFJM White has a rook for two pawns, but the position is falling apart. 22.Nf3 Ng5; 23.Nf4 Nxf3; 24.Qe6+ Kh8; 25.Rxe3 Nxd4. White resigned. 26.Qxd7 Rxf4+; 27.Rf3 Nxf3; 28.Qe8+ Bf8 brings the game to a conclusion in eight moves or less.
Open e-file The e-file is often the highway to victory for Black. To start with, the pawn which usually sits at e4 is a target for a rook at e8, once the central exchange ...exd4 is threatened. If White should be foolish enough to leave the king in the center too long, a more direct attack is possible.
Artsukevich vs. Korchnoi
Leningrad Championship, 1953
1.d4 Nf6; 2.c4 c5; 3.d5 d6; 4.Nc3 g6; 5.e4 Bg7; 6.f4; 0–0; 7.Nf3. The game has transposed from a Benoni to a Four Pawns Attack. 7...e6; 8.Qc2. Timid plan, not often repeated. 8...Re8; 9.Be2 exd5; 10.cxd5.
206
SECRETS OF THE KING’S INDIAN DEFENSE
cuuuuuuuuC (rhb1rDkD} 70pDwDpgp} 6wDw0whpD} 5Dw0PDwDw} &wDwDP)wD} 3DwHwDNDw} 2P)QDBDP)} %$wGwIwDR} ,./9EFJM 10...Nxe4! Black wins a pawn by this temporary sacrifice. 11.Nxe4 Bf5; 12.Nfd2 Qe7; 13.Bf3 Bxe4; 14.Nxe4 f5; 15.0–0 fxe4; 16.Re1 Bd4+; 17.Kh1.
cuuuuuuuuC (rhwDrDkD} 70pDw1wDp} 6wDw0wDpD} 5Dw0PDwDw} &wDwgp)wD} 3DwDwDBDw} 2P)QDwDP)} %$wGw$wDK} ,./9EFJM
White counted on his little counterpin to regain the pawn. He should have forgotten about that problem, as a greater one faces him now. 17...exf3!; 18.Rxe7 Rxe7; 19.gxf3 Re1+; 20.Kg2 Nd7; 21.Rb1 Rae8.
207
CARDOZA PUBLISHING • GUFELD & SCHILLER
cuuuuuuuuC (wDwDrDkD} 70pDnDwDp} 6wDw0wDpD} 5Dw0PDwDw} &wDwgw)wD} 3DwDwDPDw} 2P)QDwDK)} %DRGw4wDw} ,./9EFJM White has a queen for rook and knight, but the pieces can’t move. White should try to do nothing more than sidestep the threatened check on g2, but perhaps understandably felt uncomfortable making a king move in such a position.. 22.Bd2?; 22.Kg3 R8e2; 23.Bd2 Rxb1; 24.Qxb1 R xd2 is even worse. 22...R8e2+; 23.Kh3 Rxd2!; 24.Qxd2 Rxb1 and Black went on to win.
Fork at e4 The central square e4 can be used by a Black knight to attack White pieces at c5, c3, d2, f2, g3, g5, f6 and d6. It should come as no surprise, then, that forks are a common sight on this table!
Rosenthal vs. Biebinger
Youth tournament, Wolfstein, 1994
1.d4 Nf6; 2.c4 d6; 3.Nc3 g6; 4.e4 Bg7; 5.Nf3; 0–0; 6.Be2 e5; 7.0–0 Nc6; 8.d5 Ne7; 9.Ne1 Ne8; 10.f4
cuuuuuuuuC (rDb1n4kD} 70p0whpgp} 6wDw0wDpD} 5DwDP0wDw} &wDPDP)wD} 3DwHwDwDw} 2P)wDBDP)} %$wGQHRIw} ,./9EFJM
208
SECRETS OF THE KING’S INDIAN DEFENSE
We take this opportunity to examine one of the popular variations of the Classical lines, with 9...Ne8 instead of the more common 9...Nd7. 10...f5. Black might be tempted to play this move, but had better work out the details in advance. Black needs a little help in some lines, but there are interesting possibilities. 10...exf4; 11.Bxf4 h6; 12.Nc2 and only now 12...f5!; 13.exf5 g5!; 14.Be3 Nxf5 with only Piket’s 15.Qd3 Nxe3; 16.Rxf8+ Bxf8; 17.Nxe3 offering any chances for White. Nunn considers the position after 17...Bg7 as having “maybe a microscopic edge for White.” It is perhaps relevant that computers like this line. Junior 5 awards it the equivalent of a pawn or more better. Black should be able to handle any problems on the light squares. The pawn structure is sterile and unlikely to lead to endgame problems. 11.Nd3?! 11.exf5 Nxf5; 12.Nf3 c6 gives Black a good game with a useful check at b6. 11.fxe5! dxe5; 12.Nd3 is the most accurate move order. Here Black might consider 12...Nd6 with pressure at f4. I don’t think that White’s advantage here is any more serious than in the 10...exf4 line. Nunn only considers 12...c6, which does not seem sufficient. 11...fxe4!; 12.Nxe4 Nf5. 12...c6!? may rehabilitate the variation. 13.fxe5 dxe5; 14.Bg5 Nf6. 14...Ne7; 15.Rxf8+ Kxf8; 16.Qf1+ Kg8; 17.Qf3 gives White an attack, but the position may be defensible.
cuuuuuuuuC (rDb1w4kD} 70p0wDwgp} 6wDwDwhpD} 5DwDP0nGw} &wDPDNDwD} 3DwDNDwDw} 2P)wDBDP)} %$wDQDRIw} ,./9EFJM Position after 14...Nf6
15.Qd2?? An instructive error from this game between young players. It is a tactic which can apply in many variations of the 209
CARDOZA PUBLISHING • GUFELD & SCHILLER
King’s Indian where the bishop goes to g5. 15.Nxe5 Qe7!; 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6; 17.Bxf6 Qxf6; 18.Ng4 Qb6+; 19.Kh1 Qxb2 brings Black equal material and an even game. 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6; 16.Bxf6 Qxf6; 17.g4 is not a problem because of 17...Qg5. 15.g4! is the only move to cause serious problems. White wins a pawn on 15...Nd6 (15...Nd4; 16.Nxe5 Nxe2+; 17.Qxe2 Qe7; 18.Nxf6+ Bxf6; 19.Bxf6 R xf6; 20.Rxf6 Qxf6; 21.Rf1) 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6; 17.Bxf6 Rxf6; 18.Nxe5 and the position after 18...R xf1+; 19.Bxf1 Qf6; 20.Qe2 has an extra pawn for White and Black doesn’t really have any compensation. After 15...Nxe4 White resigned. 16.Bxd8 Nxd2; 17.Bxc7 e4! Black keeps the extra piece, and wins at least another pawn at c4.
Loose e-pawn The e-pawn may appear well-defended, but if White has a queen at d2, we’ve already seen what can happen if there is a forkable minor piece lying around. In this example, the tactic is a simple matter of opening up the e-file. Even correspondence players sometimes overlook a primitive threat.
Delarge vs. Leconte
Correspondence, 1989 1.c4 Nf6; 2.Nf3 g6; 3.Nc3 Bg7; 4.d4 d6; 5.e4; 0–0; 6.Be2 e5; 7.Bg5 h6; 8.Bh4 Nc6; 9.h3 Qe8; 10.Qd2?
cuuuuuuuuC (rDbDq4kD} 70p0wDpgw} 6wDn0whp0} 5DwDw0wDw} &wDP)PDwG} 3DwHwDNDP} 2P)w!B)PD} %$wDwIwDR} ,./9EFJM
210
SECRETS OF THE KING’S INDIAN DEFENSE
White misses the point of Black’s last move 10.d5 would be fine. 10...exd4!; 11.Nxd4 Nxe4!; 12.Nxe4 Qxe4; 13.Nxc6 bxc6.
cuuuuuuuuC (rDbDw4kD} 70w0wDpgw} 6wDp0wDp0} 5DwDwDwDw} &wDPDqDwG} 3DwDwDwDP} 2P)w!B)PD} %$wDwIwDR} ,./9EFJM
White resigned here, for good reason.
Knight check at d3 When White advances both the c-pawn and the e-pawn there is a big hole at d3 that just begs to be filled by a knight! In the present position, this tactical possibility gives rise to a combination.
Csom vs. Korchnoi Hungary, 1965
cuuuuuuuuC (rDbDw4kD} 7DpDw0pgp} 6n1p0wDpD} 50whPDwDw} &PDPDP)P)} 3DwHwGBDw} 2w)wDQDwD} %$wDwIwHR} ,./9EFJM Black to move
13...Qxb2!!; 14.Qxb2 Nd3+; 15.Kd2 Nxb2. 211
CARDOZA PUBLISHING • GUFELD & SCHILLER
cuuuuuuuuC (rDbDw4kD} 7DpDw0pgp} 6nDp0wDpD} 50wDPDwDw} &PDPDP)P)} 3DwHwGBDw} 2whwIwDwD} %$wDwDwHR} ,./9EFJM Did Black overlook something. The knight seems to be trapped! 16.Be2 Bxg4!! White resigned. After 17.Bxg4 Nxc4+; 18.Kd3 Nxe3; 19.Kxe3 Bxc3 the extra pawns are decisive.
Schlemminger vs. Sternbach Bochum, 1936
cuuuuuuuuC (rDwDw4kD} 70pDw0pgw} 6wDn0wDpD} 5DwDwDwDp} &wDP)NhwD} 3)PDwDwDq} 2wGBDw)w)} %$wDQHRIw} ,./9EFJM Black to move
The hole at g2 and powerful knight at f4 combine to destroy White’s game, with a little help from distant relatives. 17...Bxd4!!; 18.Bxd4 Nxd4; 19.Bd3. 19.Ng3 h4; 20.Bd3 Nxd3; 21.Qxd3 hxg3; 22.fxg3 e5 would also have led to a likely win for Black. 19...f5; 20.Ng3. 20.Ng5 Qh4; 21.Ngf3 Qg4+; 22.Kh1 Nxf3; 23.Qxf3 Qxf3+; 24.Nxf3 Nxd3 is hopeless for White. 20...h4; 21.Nh1?? 21.Ra2 hxg3; 22.fxg3 Qh5!; 23.Nf3 Nxf3+; 24.R xf3 Nh3+; 25.Kg2 Ng5. The queens come off, and Black’s extra pawn should be enough for a win. But White’s chosen move was suicide. 212
SECRETS OF THE KING’S INDIAN DEFENSE
cuuuuuuuuC (rDwDw4kD} 70pDw0wDw} 6wDw0wDpD} 5DwDwDpDw} &wDPhwhw0} 3)PDBDwDq} 2wDwDw)w)} %$wDQHRIN} ,./9EFJM Black to move
21...Qg2+; 22.Nxg2 Nh3#.
Weakness at b2 Here’s a useful tip: no matter how much garbage is in the way, a pawn at b2 is weak as long as the mighty bishop lives and breathes! In the next example, c3, e5 and f6 are all occupied and it is hard to imagine that the bishop will ever reach the tasty morsel at b2, let alone the juicy rook at a1. But the hungry beast feeds soon enough!
Agarwal vs. Gufeld
Calcutta, 1992 1.d4 Nf6; 2.c4 g6; 3.Nc3 Bg7; 4.e4; 0–0; 5.Be3 d6; 6.f3 Nc6; 7.Nge2 a6; 8.Qd2 Rb8; 9.g4 b5; 10.Ng3 e5; 11.d5.
cuuuuuuuuC (w4b1w4kD} 7Dw0wDpgp} 6pDn0whpD} 5DpDP0wDw} &wDPDPDPD} 3DwHwGPHw} 2P)w!wDw)} %$wDwIBDR} ,./9EFJM
213
CARDOZA PUBLISHING • GUFELD & SCHILLER
Although it isn’t obvious, White’s b-pawn is very weak. All it takes is a few open lines, and White’s game falls apart! 11...Nd4!; 12.Bxd4. Notice how the weakness at f3 limits White’s options. 12...exd4; 13.Nce2 d3! Simple def lection. Get the queen out of the way and then get to work! 14.Qxd3 bxc4; 15.Qd2.
cuuuuuuuuC (w4b1w4kD} 7Dw0wDpgp} 6pDw0whpD} 5DwDPDwDw} &wDpDPDPD} 3DwDwDPHw} 2P)w!NDw)} %$wDwIBDR} ,./9EFJM
Now, how do I get to b2? 15...Nxg4!! That’s the ticket! 16.fxg4 Rxb2; 17.Qf4. Now it is time for another little sacrifice. 17...Rxe2+; 18.Bxe2 Bxa1; 19.Bxc4 Bc3+; 20.Kf2 Be5; 21.Qf3 Qh4; 22.Be2 f5 Soon the rook will join the fun, so it was time for my opponent to give up, and he did.
Bronstein’s Rook Sac at a1 When White has a bishop at a1, as is sometimes seen when White adopts a double-f ianchetto, Black can get mediaeval on the dark squares by sacrificing a rook for the essential defender. David Bronstein provided two stunning examples of this tactic. Amazingly, they were played in the same event, against two different opponents, in the 4th and 6th rounds!
Pachman vs. Bronstein
Moscow vs. Prague Match (4th round), 1946
1.d4 Nf6; 2.c4 d6; 3.Nc3 e5; 4.Nf3 Nbd7; 5.g3 g6; 6.Bg2 Bg7; 7.0–0 0–0; 8.b3 Re8; 9.e4 exd4; 10.Nxd4 Nc5; 11.Re1 a5; 12Bb2 a4; 13.Rc1 c6; 14.Ba1 axb3; 15.axb3 Qb6; 16.h3 Nfd7; 17.Rb1 Nf8; 18.Kh2 h5; 19.Re2 h4; 20.Rd2. 214
SECRETS OF THE KING’S INDIAN DEFENSE
cuuuuuuuuC (rDbDrhkD} 7DpDwDpgw} 6w1p0wDpD} 5DwhwDwDw} &wDPHPDw0} 3DPHwDw)P} 2wDw$w)BI} %GRDQDwDw} ,./9EFJM Here it comes! 20...Rxa1!!; 21.Rxa1 Bxd4; 22.Rxd4 Nxb3.
uuuuuuuu (wDbDrhkD} 7DpDwDpDw} 6w1p0wDpD} 5DwDwDwDw} &wDP$PDw0} 3DnHwDw)P} 2wDwDw)BI} %$wDQDwDw} ,./9EFJM
White’s game is falling apart. The rook should retreat to d2, yielding to the enemy knight, rather than leave f2 without protection. 23.Rxd6?! 23.Rd2 Nxd2; 24.Qxd2 hxg3+; 25.fxg3 Qc5; 26.Bf1 Nd7 followed by ...Ne5 should eventually win for Black. 23...Qxf2; 24.Ra2 Qxg3+; 25.Kh1 Qxc3. Black has a pair of knights and a pair of pawns for the rook, and the rest is just mopping up. 26.Ra3 Bxh3!; 27.Rxb3 Bxg2+; 28.Kxg2 Qxc4. Four pawns for the exchange! 29.Rd4 Qe6; 30.Rxb7 Ra8; 31.Qe2 h3+. White resigned.
215
CARDOZA PUBLISHING • GUFELD & SCHILLER
Zita vs. Bronstein
Moscow vs. Prague Match 6th round), 1946
1.d4 Nf6; 2.c4 g6; 3.g3 Bg7; 4.Bg2 0–0; 5.Nc3 d6; 6.Nf3 Nbd7; 7.0–0 e5; 8.e4 c6; 9.b3 Re8; 10.Bb2 exd4; 11.Nxd4 Qb6; 12.Qd2? Correct is12.Na4! where 12...Qc7; 13.Qc2 is perhaps marginally better for White. 12...Nc5; 13.Rfe1 a5; 14.Rab1 a4; 15.Ba1 axb3; 16.axb3 Ng4; 17.h3.
cuuuuuuuuC (rDbDrDkD} 7DpDwDpgp} 6w1p0wDpD} 5DwhwDwDw} &wDPHPDnD} 3DPHwDw)P} 2wDw!w)BD} %GRDw$wIw} ,./9EFJM
Perhaps White thought that the knight would retreat. That’s not Bronstein’s style! 17...Rxa1!!; 18.Rxa1 Nxf2!! Once the darksquared bishop is gone, the devastation on the dark squares begins. 19.Re3. 19.Qxf2 runs into a fork on 19...Nd3; 19.Kxf2 allows a different fork with 19...Nxb3. 19...Nxh3+.
cuuuuuuuuC (wDbDrDkD} 7DpDwDpgp} 6w1p0wDpD} 5DwhwDwDw} &wDPHPDwD} 3DPHw$w)n} 2wDw!wDBD} %$wDwDwIw} ,./9EFJM
20.Kh2. On 20.Bxh3 Bxh3 and Black has extra pawns, while White has to worry about all those pieces on the dark squares! 216
SECRETS OF THE KING’S INDIAN DEFENSE
20...Nf2; 21.Rf3 Ncxe4; 22.Qf4. 22.Nxe4 Nxe4 and another piece falls. 22...Ng4+. White could have resigned here. 23.Kh1 f5; 24.Nxe4 Rxe4; 25.Qxd6 Rxd4; 26.Qb8 Rd8; 27.Ra8 Be5; 28.Qa7 Qb4; 29.Qg1 Qf8; 30.Bh3 Qh6. White resigned.
Transition to Winning Endgame To make the most of the King’s Indian Defense, you need to know your bishop endgames. Against the Maroczy Bind pawn structure (c4, e4 with no d-pawn) you will find your light-squared bishop, or even a knight, to be a more formidable weapon than the enemy light-squared bishop, which is hemmed in by the pawns.
Adamski vs. Geller
Lugano Olympiad, 1968
1.d4 Nf6; 2.c4 g6; 3.Nc3 Bg7; 4.e4 d6; 5.Be2; 0–0; 6.Bg5 Nbd7; 7.Qd2 e5; 8.Nf3 c6; 9.0–0 exd4; 10.Nxd4 Nc5; 11.f3 .
cuuuuuuuuC (rDb1w4kD} 70pDwDpgp} 6wDp0whpD} 5DwhwDwGw} &wDPHPDwD} 3DwHwDPDw} 2P)w!BDP)} %$wDwDRIw} ,./9EFJM
This trap is so easy to miss that two players blundered into it in the same tournament! Two rounds later, Holm fell for it. 11...Nfxe4!; 12.Nxe4. 12.Bxd8 Nxd2 shows the power of the bishop in full force. The knight at d4 hangs with check, while the rook at f1 and bishop at d8 are both under attack. 12...Nxe4; 13.fxe4 Bxd4+; 14.Qxd4 Qxg5; 15.Qxd6.
217
CARDOZA PUBLISHING • GUFELD & SCHILLER
cuuuuuuuuC (rDbDw4kD} 70pDwDpDp} 6wDp!wDpD} 5DwDwDw1w} &wDPDPDwD} 3DwDwDwDw} 2P)wDBDP)} %$wDwDRIw} ,./9EFJM The carnage is complete. White is very weak on the e-file. 15...Qe3+; 16.Rf2 Be6; 17.Qf4 Qxf4; 18.Rxf4 Rad8; 19.Bf1 Rd4; 20.Rc1 Rfd8 Black’s superior activity and better bishop proved decisive. 21.Rf2 Rxe4; 22.b4 Red4; 23.a4 Rd1; 24.Rfc2 R8d2; 25.a5 Kf8; 26.b5 c5; 27.Rxd2 Rxc1; 28.Kf2 Ke7. White resigned.
218
SECRETS OF THE KING’S INDIAN DEFENSE
TACTICAL THEMES FOR WHITE White has powerful weapons, too. The fianchetto position is not immune to attacks by tactical means. A knight can profitably use light squares such as d5, f5 and h5 even as a sacrifice. An invading Black queen on the queenside can be lured into a trap from which it cannot escape. The ultra-solid pawn at d6 can find its support wither away until it becomes a weakling. You’ll see examples of these themes in the following games.
Central Knight Leap In the King’s Indian Defense no great effort is made to control d5. That task is pretty much left to the knight at f6. The smart player of the White pieces will make good use of the square, unless it is occupied by a pawn.
219
CARDOZA PUBLISHING • GUFELD & SCHILLER
Zamikhovsky vs. Nyezhmetdinov
Kharkov, 1956 1.d4 Nf6; 2.c4 g6; 3.Nc3 Bg7; 4.e4 d6; 5.f3; 0–0; 6.Be3 Nbd7; 7.Qd2 c5; 8.Nge2 a6; 9.0–0–0 Qa5; 10.dxc5 dxc5; 11.Kb1 b5; 12.Nd5.
cuuuuuuuuC (rDbDw4kD} 7DwDn0pgp} 6pDwDwhpD} 51p0NDwDw} &wDPDPDwD} 3DwDwGPDw} 2P)w!NDP)} %DKDRDBDR} ,./9EFJM
White has malicious intent on the kingside. This move is a form of the knight leap trap, because if Black captures the queen then White wins a pawn by capturing at e7 with check before recapturing the queen. Therefore the retreat of the queen to d8 would seem to be indicated. Nyezhmetdinov chooses to seize the initiative instead, even at the cost of material. 12...Nxd5!!; 13.Qxa5 Nxe3; 14.Rc1 Nxc4.
cuuuuuuuuC (rDbDw4kD} 7DwDn0pgp} 6pDwDwDpD} 5!p0wDwDw} &wDnDPDwD} 3DwDwDPDw} 2P)wDNDP)} %DK$wDBDR} ,./9EFJM
Black has a powerful bishop, an attacking knight, and an extra pawn for the queen. More important, however, is the attack on the queen, which maintains the initiative. 15.Rxc4!? Probably 220
SECRETS OF THE KING’S INDIAN DEFENSE
best. By returning an exchange, White smashes the pawn structure and blunts the initiative. 15...bxc4; 16.Nc3 Rb8!
cuuuuuuuuC (w4bDw4kD} 7DwDn0pgp} 6pDwDwDpD} 5!w0wDwDw} &wDpDPDwD} 3DwHwDPDw} 2P)wDwDP)} %DKDwDBDR} ,./9EFJM
Black sets up some threats. The White queen cannot move becuas then the knight at c3 falls, because the b-pawn is pinned. White’s last move, and next move, are necessary to get development going. 17.Bxc4 Ne5! The attack on the bishop at c4 regains the initiative. 18.Be2 Be6.
cuuuuuuuuC (w4wDw4kD} 7DwDw0pgp} 6pDwDbDpD} 5!w0whwDw} &wDwDPDwD} 3DwHwDPDw} 2P)wDBDP)} %DKDwDwDR} ,./9EFJM
The bishop moves into position to attack via c4. 19.Rd1 Bc4. This move keeps the initiative, but results in a draw. Commentators have suggested that there was a more effective plan, but I am not sure it holds up under scrutiny. 19...Nc6 is the suggested improvement. The idea is that ...Nb4 will be very strong. The capture at c5 was dismissed as suicidal, but is it? 20.Qxc5 Nb4; 21.e5 cuts off the bishop. Again the initiative is 221
CARDOZA PUBLISHING • GUFELD & SCHILLER
preserved with an attack on the queen. 21...Rfc8 t; 22.Qe3 Bf5+; 23.Ne4 Bxe5; 24.b3 Nc2; 25.Qc1. Here Black could repeat the position with 25...Nd4; 26.Qe3 Nc2 etc., or maybe even try for more with the complicated 25...Bd6!? 25...Be6; 26.Qxc2 Rxc2; 27.Kxc2 Bxh2; 28.Bxa6 Ra8. 20.Rd2 Nc6; 21.Qa3 Be6; 22.Qxc5 Nb4; 23.a3 Rfc8; 24.Qxc8+ Rxc8; 25.axb4. Drawn.
Kindtner vs. Hubert Correspondence, 1987
cuuuuuuuuC (w4b1w4kD} 7DwDwDpDp} 6pDw0whp!} 5Dw0wDwDP} &wDp$PDwD} 3DwHwDPDw} 2P)wDwDPD} %DwIwDBDR} ,./9EFJM White to move
Black’s pieces lie helpless on the back rank while White attacks vigorously on the kingside. The rook is hanging at d4, but White is not concerned about it. Getting the knight into the game is more important. 16.Nd5!! cxd4; 17.hxg6 fxg6; 18.Nxf6+ Kf7; 19.Nxh7 Rh8; 20.Rh4! Black resigned. White is temporarily down the exchange but is going to win a lot of material in the next few moves. The next game displays the classic fianchetto mate, one of the standard methods of assassinating the Black king.
222
SECRETS OF THE KING’S INDIAN DEFENSE
Bogoljubow vs. Grob
Dresden, 1936 1.d4 Nf6; 2.Nf3 g6; 3.c4 Bg7; 4.Nc3; 0–0; 5.e4 d6; 6.Be2 e5; 7.0–0 exd4; 8.Nxd4 Qe8; 9.f3 a6; 10.Be3 Nc6; 11.Qd2 h5; 12.Rac1 Qe5; 13.Nb3 h4.
cuuuuuuuuC (rDbDw4kD} 7Dp0wDpgw} 6pDn0whpD} 5DwDw1wDw} &wDPDPDw0} 3DNHwGPDw} 2P)w!BDP)} %Dw$wDRIw} ,./9EFJM
An attack which is not supported by pieces cannot succeed. Black’s h-pawn wanders down the board with no effect. 14.Bg5 h3; 15.g4! The kingside will remain closed. There is nothing to be gained by sacrificing at g4. 15...Bd7; 16.Bf4 Qe6; 17.Nd5!
cuuuuuuuuC (rDwDw4kD} 7Dp0bDpgw} 6pDn0qhpD} 5DwDNDwDw} &wDPDPGPD} 3DNDwDPDp} 2P)w!BDw)} %Dw$wDRIw} ,./9EFJM
The potent knight attacks c7, but the control of g6 is equally important. 17...Rac8; 18.Bh6 Bxh6; 19.Qxh6 a5. Black may as well play on the queenside, as the kingside is hopeless. 20.Rc3 a4; 21.f4! There is no need to worry about the knight at b3. 21...Nh5; 22.gxh5 axb3; 23.f5! Nd4; 24.f6 and Black resigned after 24...Nxe2+; 25.Kf2. 223
CARDOZA PUBLISHING • GUFELD & SCHILLER
Flank Knight Leap Menchik vs. Thomas
London, 1932 1.d4 Nf6; 2.c4 g6; 3.Nc3 Bg7; 4.e4 d6; 5.f3; 0–0; 6.Be3 e5; 7.Nge2 b6; 8.Qd2 Nc6; 9.d5 Nd7; 10.g4 Ne7; 11.Rg1 a5; 12.0–0– 0 Nc5; 13.Ng3 Bd7; 14.h4 a4?; 15.h5 Qb8?; 16.Bh6 Qa7; 17.Bxg7 Kxg7.
cuuuuuuuuC (rDwDw4wD} 71w0bhpip} 6w0w0wDpD} 5DwhP0wDP} &pDPDPDPD} 3DwHwDPHw} 2P)w!wDwD} %DwIRDB$w} ,./9EFJM
Menchik the Women’s World Champion, adopts the strategy seen more often in the Spanish Game. Black’s position does look like a Ruy Lopez, and Thomas suffers the fate of the Spanish Inquisition. 18.Nf5+! Nxf5. 18...gxf5; 19.gxf5+ (19.Qg5+ Kh8; 20.Qf6+ Kg8; 21.h6+ followed by 22.Qg7#) 19...Ng6 (19...Kh8; 20.Qg5) 20.f6+ and White wins. Or 18...Bxf5; 19.gxf5 Nd7; 20.Bh3 Nf6; 21.hxg6 hxg6; 22.fxg6 fxg6; 23.Bf5 comes full circle. The occupation of f5 gives White a decisive advantage. 19.gxf5.
224
SECRETS OF THE KING’S INDIAN DEFENSE
cuuuuuuuuC (rDwDw4wD} 71w0bDpip} 6w0w0wDpD} 5DwhP0PDP} &pDPDPDwD} 3DwHwDPDw} 2P)w!wDwD} %DwIRDB$w} ,./9EFJM 19...a3. 19...f6; 20.hxg6 h6; 21.Rh1 Rh8; 22.Be2 will win in the end. 20.f6+ Kh8. 20...Kxf6 only temporarily occupies that square. The White queen will muscle her way in and take over. 21.Qg5+ Kg7; 22.h6+ Kg8; 23.Qf6. 21.Qh6 axb2+; 22.Kb1 Rg8; 23.hxg6 fxg6; 24.Qxh7+.
cuuuuuuuuC (rDwDwDri} 71w0bDwDQ} 6w0w0w)pD} 5DwhP0wDw} &wDPDPDwD} 3DwHwDPDw} 2P0wDwDwD} %DKDRDB$w} ,./9EFJM
Black resigned, facing mate on the h-file.
Trapped Queen When the Black queen is deployed on the queenside, she can find herself trapped in a small space. Sometimes, there is no escape.
225
CARDOZA PUBLISHING • GUFELD & SCHILLER
Polyakova vs. Lundina
49th Russian Women’s Championship, Moscow, 1999
cuuuuuuuuC (rDbDn4kD} 70pDwDwgp} 6qDpDwDpD} 5Dw)wDwDw} &wDwDBGwD} 3DNDwDw)P} 2P)QDwDwI} %$wDwDRDw} ,./9EFJM Black to move
20...Nf6?? 20...Be6 would have solved all Black’s problems. 21.Bd3 Qa4! Black has a good game. 21.Bd3 Qa4; 22.Bd6! The threat of Rf4 is overpowering. 22...Re8; 23.Rf4. Black resigned. Sometimes the queen needs to be forced to a position where she can be attacked more efficiently. A typical tactic is a pawn sacrifice at b4, which is especially effective when it forks the queen and a piece at c5.
Hernandez vs Rantanen Skopje Olympiad, 1972
cuuuuuuuuC (rDbDw4wD} 7DwDw0pip} 6pDw0wDpD} 51phwDw)n} &wDPHPDwD} 3DwHwDPDw} 2P)w!BDw)} %$wDwIwDR} ,./9EFJM White to move
226
SECRETS OF THE KING’S INDIAN DEFENSE
Black’s knights are on useful blockading squares and the game seems quiet. However, White can lure the Black queen to b4, where it is quickly surrounded. 15.b4!! Qxb4; 16.Nc6 Qa3; 17.Nb1 Qa4; 18.Qb2+ e5; 19.Nc3 Nf4; 20.Nxa4. Black resigned.
Weakness at d6 Sometimes our pawn at d6 is irrelevant, and can be sacrificed. Most of the time, however, it plays an important role in the defense of c5 or e5. Since Black usually advances both the e-pawn and c-pawn at some point, the pawn at d6 can become vulnerable and is an easy target.
Sotnikov vs. Nedochetov
Briansk Team Championship 1995
cuuuuuuuuC (rDwDw4wi} 7Dp0b1pgp} 6wDw0whpD} 50whP0wDw} &wDPDPDPD} 3DwHwGwHP} 2P)B!w)wD} %$wDwIwDR} ,./9EFJM Black to move
14...c6?; 15.g5 Ne8; 16.h4 Nc7? allows White to exploit the weakness at d6. 17.Bxc5! cxd5; 18.cxd5. Black resigned.
227
Let's Take A Look
Let's Take A Look... Nigel Davies
We invite you to submit games to be considered by Nigel in this column. For all games submitted, please provide the following information: (1) Names of both players; (2) Ratings of both players; (3) When and where the game was played; (4) The time control used in the game; and (5) Any other information you think would be helpful for us to know. Please submit the games (in PGN or CBV format if possible) to:
[email protected] . Who knows, perhaps you will see the game in an upcoming column, as Nigel says to you, "Let's take a look..."
Bucking the Trend It's hard to buck the trend. When the word's out that a particular variation is good or bad it's difficult to avoid being influenced. Usually the fashion is set by the reigning World Champion when games are published in which the Champ wins brilliantly. Yet by the time this variation becomes popular he has moved on to pastures new... You can see this process quite clearly in the games of Garry Kasparov. To take just one example, he created a wave of popularity with the Petrosian Variation of the Queen's Indian Defence (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 a3) which in turn was taken up by a host of other players. Yet just when this variation was at the height of its popularity, Kasparov moved on; he played variations such as 4 Nf3 and 4 Qc2 against the Nimzo-Indian and then turned to 1 e4. There's a subtle message contained in these switches; it's not the variations you play but when you play them. By creating the fashion Kasparov reaped the reward of surprise and confronted his opponents with new problems. When everyone's playing the same way these lines don't surprise
file:///C|/cafe/davies/davies.htm (1 of 8) [07/14/2003 8:48:24 AM]
Let's Take A Look
anyone and the problems have been largely or fully solved. All this leads to a big question; if it's the trendsetters who succeed in many fields, why is it that so many people choose to be followers? The answer lies in the notion that people tend to conform to the behavior of others, which is one of the most accepted principles in psychology. We often go to see films just because everyone we know has seen them or buy books that everyone seems to be talking about. The influence of those around us can be very persuasive. On the whole such conformity is very useful; if people didn't accept certain standards of behavior then how would we drive a car without fear of a head-on collision? Yet problems arise when an activity requires the rejection of the popular view, creative chess being one of them. Can we learn to buck the trend? I think so, the first step being to know that we are conforming whenever we accept information uncritically. As a second step I think it's useful to read books of players such as Tony Miles and Bent Larsen who are known for their individuality and lack of routine. Miles, for example, has consistently favored offbeat openings to wrong foot his opponents, once remarking that he like to play the Nimzovitsch Defense (1 e4 Nc6!?) early in a tournament so that everyone would waste time preparing for it! As for Larsen he has been accused of only writing about variations which were no longer in his repertoire, which the maestro admitted contained an element of truth. Examples such as these can do much to nurture the spirit of independence, but there are also rich sources outside chess. The value of thinking differently is highly prized, for example, in the world of investment. The excesses of crowd behavior, such as Holland's tulip mania and the South Sea bubble, are beautifully described in Charles Mackay's classic, Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds. Further education is also provided in The Art of Contrary Thinking (The Caxton Printers Ltd, 1954) by file:///C|/cafe/davies/davies.htm (2 of 8) [07/14/2003 8:48:24 AM]
Let's Take A Look
Humphrey B Neill in which the author noted that: "Obvious thinking - or thinking the same way in which everyone else is thinking - commonly leads to wrong judgements and wrong conclusions." Having outlined the joys of a contrarian approach, let's see how it might work out in practice. One opening whose stocks are hitting new lows is the King's Indian Defense with this one time darling of dynamic players having been abandoned wholesale by its former practitioners. Top players such as Kasparov and Alexei Shirov have stopped playing it and many of its past masters (including Bobby Fischer, David Bronstein, Eduard Gufeld, Efim Geller, Leonid Stein, Miguel Najdorf and Larry Evans) have either passed on or are retired. In short there are very few people around to defend the King's Indian's honor and so the followers have been leaving in droves. A young player at my chess club recently gave the King's Indian up and I asked him what the problem was. He then recited a list of the lines which he thought were good for White, from the Petrosian System to the Four Pawns Attack. But was this really the case or had he just been influenced by the current wave of negative sentiment? Being contrary by nature, my interest is piqued when I see the crowd going the other way. I've started to wonder what the problem is. Are all these lines really so bad for Black? And does its increasingly poor reputation not contain the advantage that it might set White's heart beating a little faster? I've therefore promised myself to take another look at the King's Indian which I last played regularly in the 1980s. So let’s buck the trend of King’s Indian bashing by taking a look at a Black win in one of the supposed 'problem-lines'. The Bayonet attack with 10 Re1 has been causing Black some headaches, but the danger of his king side attack should not be underestimated.
file:///C|/cafe/davies/davies.htm (3 of 8) [07/14/2003 8:48:24 AM]
Let's Take A Look
Dagan,Y (1935) - Vaisman,F (1994) King's Indian Defence Israeli Ch Qualifier, 2003
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 This shouldn't necessarily be an automatic choice. Black can also play 4...0-0 5 Nf3 c6 intending 6...d5, as played in a number of games by Grandmaster Lev Gutman. 5 Nf3 0-0 6 Be2 e5 Before announcing the death of the King's Indian, it's worth remembering that this isn't Black's only move. There are in fact as many as seven alternatives that I know of: a) 6...c5 may well be best met by 7 0-0 when 7...cxd4 8 Nxd4 Nc6 leads to a Maroczy Bind Sicilian, currently thought to be very reasonable for Black. After 7 d5 e6 8 0-0 Re8 9 Nd2 Na6 White can find himself running out of useful moves, in Ghane Gardeh - Iuldachev, Abu Dhabi 2002 he found himself in all sorts of trouble after 10 f4 exd5 11 cxd5 Rb8 12 Re1 Nc7 13 a4 a6 14 Bf3 b5 15 a5 h5 16 h3 Ng4! etc. b) 6...a6 is a speciality of my chess club (the "3Cs" in Oldham) which contains a number of interesting points. One of them is that after 7 0-0 Bg4 8 Be3 Nfd7 9 Rc1 c5 10 d5 Black can play 10...Bxf3! 11 Bxf3 b5! as in Beaumont - Bentley, 4NCL Birmingham 2001. c) Simagin's 6...Bg4 7 Be3 Nfd7 is still being played by strong players, one recent example being the game Cummings - Hebert, Richmond 2002 in which Black stood better after 8 Ng1 Bxe2 9 Ngxe2 c5 10 d5 a6 11 a4 Qa5 12 Rc1 Qb4 13 b3 b5 14 cxb5 axb5 15 axb5 Ra3 etc. d) 6...c6 7 0-0 a6 intending 8...b5 is a plan that has been used extensively by Bulgaria's Krum Georgiev. e) 6...Nbd7 intending 7...e5 transposes into the 6...e5 7 0-0 file:///C|/cafe/davies/davies.htm (4 of 8) [07/14/2003 8:48:24 AM]
Let's Take A Look
Nbd7 variation. f) 6...Na6 followed by 7...e5 probably leads to the 6 e5 7 0-0 Na6 line. g) 6...Qe8 can transpose into either 6...e5 7 0-0 Qe8 should Black follow up with 7...e5 or into 6...e5 7 0-0 Na6 should Black play 7...Na6. The hydra appears to have many heads and it isn't enough to cut one of them off to claim victory. 7 0-0 Nc6 The main line, though once again Black has a number of alternatives: a) 7...Na6 is still being played by King's Indian notables such as Joe Gallagher and Branko Damljanovic, for example 8 Be3 (8 Re1 c6 9 Rb1 exd4 10 Nxd4 Nc5 11 Bf1 Ng4 12 h3 Qf6 13 Nf3 Ne5 14 Nh2 Be6 15 b3 Rad8 was Atalik - Damljanovic, Bled 2002) 8...Ng4 9 Bg5 Qe8 10 dxe5 dxe5 11 h3 h6 12 Bd2 Nf6 13 Be3 Qe7 14 Qa4 c6 15 Rfd1 Nh5 16 c5 Nc7 17 b4 Nf4 18 Bf1 g5 and Black had nothing to worry about in Pelletier - Gallagher, Leukerbad 2002. b) I played 7...Qe8 myself against Ronen Lev in Tel Aviv 1989 and obtained a good position after 8 dxe5 dxe5 9 b3 Qe7 10 Nd5 Nxd5 11 cxd5 c6 12 Bb2 Rd8 13 Re1 Na6 14 Qc1 cxd5 15 exd5 f6 16 Bc4 Kh8 17 Ba3 Qd7 18 d6 b5 19 Bd5 Bb7 20 Rd1 Rac8 when White's d-pawn proved to be weak rather than strong. c) 7...Nbd7. d) 7...c6. 8 d5 Ne7 9 b4 Nh5 10 Re1 f5 11 Nd2 White has also played 11 c5 after which 11...fxe4 12 Nxe4 file:///C|/cafe/davies/davies.htm (5 of 8) [07/14/2003 8:48:24 AM]
Let's Take A Look
Nf4 13 Bxf4 Rxf4 led to complex play in Kramnik - Gelfand, Novgorod 1996. 11...Nf6 12 f3 Arguably a slight loss of time. Usually White plays the immediate 12 c5, with a position which seems too complicated to label with a definitive judgement. 12...f4 This turns the game into a race of attacks which is not strictly necessary at this point. In the game Shulte - Mareck, Switzerland 2001 Black first got his bishop outside the pawn chain with 12...Bh6 13 c5 Be3+ 14 Kh1 before playing 14...f4. Another possibility is 12...c6 as in Simutowe - Smirin, Moscow 2001. The idea of this move is not to open the queenside with ...cxd5, but to apply pressure to the d5 pawn in order to inhibit c4-c5 by White. 13 c5 g5 14 Nc4 Ne8 15 Ba3 Ng6 16 b5 h5 One of the most difficult things to decide in chess is when to punch and when to duck. I would have chosen to duck with 16...b6 in order to prevent d6 from being undermined. 17 Rb1 I think White should play an immediate 17 b6. The text gives Black another chance to hold up White's play on the queenside. 17...g4 Once again I'd play 17...b6. file:///C|/cafe/davies/davies.htm (6 of 8) [07/14/2003 8:48:24 AM]
Let's Take A Look
18 fxg4 hxg4 19 Bxg4 Qg5 20 Bf3 After 20 Bxc8 Rxc8 21 Qd2 (21 cxd6 cxd6 22 Nxd6 leaves the knight on c3 hanging) Black can block the queenside with 21...b6!. The point is that 22 cxd6 cxd6 23 Nxd6 is answered by 23...Nh4 threatening 24...Nf3+ and 24...Rxc3. 20...Nh4 Unless I'm missing something it seems better to protect the d6 pawn with 20....Rf6. Now I think White can just capture on d6 as after 21 cxd6 cxd6 (21...Nxg2 can be answered by 22 Bxg2 f3 23 Rb2) 22 Nxd6 Nxd6 23 Bxd6 Bh3 24 Rb2 Rfc8 25 Na4 Rc1 doesn't work because of 26 Qxc1 Nxf3+ 27 Kh1 etc. After the move chosen in the game Black's attack becomes very strong. 21 Kh1? Rf6 22 b6 Rh6 23 h3 The most beautiful lines often remain in the footnotes. After 23 Qe2 Black wins with 23...Qg3!! 24 hxg3 (or 24 Kg1 Nxf3+ 25 Qxf3 Qxh2+ etc) 24...Nxf3 mate. 23...Nxg2! 24 Bxg2 Bxh3 25 Re2 Bxg2+ 26 Kg1 Bf3+ 26...Rh1+ 27 Kf2 Qg3 mate was quicker. 27 Kf2 Qg3+ 0-1 Further Reading Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds file:///C|/cafe/davies/davies.htm (7 of 8) [07/14/2003 8:48:24 AM]
Let's Take A Look
by Charles Mackay The Art of Contrary Thinking by Humphrey B Neill (The Caxton Printers Ltd, 1954) Larsen’s Selected Games of Chess 1948-69 by Bent Larsen (Bell & Sons Ltd., 1970) Tony Miles: ‘It’s Only Me’ by Geoff Lawton, Mike Fox and Malcolm Hunt (Batsford 2003) World Champion at the Third Attempt by Grigory Sanakoev (Gambit, 1999): Sanakoev’s superb collection of games. Copyright 2003 Nigel Davies. All rights reserved.
[ChessCafe Home Page] [Book Review] [Bulletin Board] [Columnists] [Endgame Study] [Skittles Room] [Archives] [Links] [Online Bookstore] [About The Chess Cafe] [Contact Us] Copyright 2003 CyberCafes, LLC. All Rights Reserved. "The Chess Cafe®" is a registered trademark of Russell Enterprises, Inc.
file:///C|/cafe/davies/davies.htm (8 of 8) [07/14/2003 8:48:24 AM]
THE KING'S INDIAN DEFENCE It starts: 1. d2-d4 Ng8-f6 2. c2-c4 g7-g6 3. Nb1-c3 Bf8-g7 XABCDEFGH 8rsnlwqk+-tr( 7zppzppzppvlp' 6-+-+-snp+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+PzP-+-+$ 3+-sN-+-+-# 2PzP-+PzPPzP" 1tR-vLQmKLsNR! Xabcdefgh WHITE SAYS: Fine! If you want to give me more space I'll take it. Attack me on either side of the board. See if I care. I'll refute your attack and crush you to death. My space advantage will be decisive.
BLACK SAYS: Go ahead and make my day. Build up a big pawn centre if you choose. The bigger you build it the more I'll like it. I'll attack it with e5 or c5 and smash it to pieces with the help of my g7 Bishop.
XABCDEFGH 8rsnlwqk+-tr( 7zppzppzppvlp' 6-+-+-snp+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+PzP-+-+$ 3+-sN-+-+-# 2PzP-+PzPPzP" 1tR-vLQmKLsNR! Xabcdefgh What happens next? White will usually continue with e2-e4, accepting Black's challenge to build up a pawn centre. Black will play d7-d6, 0-0 and then either e7-e5 or c7-c5, depending on which set-up White chooses. Then White will have the choice of exchanging (wimpish), pushing with d4-d5 or waiting to see if Black will exchange pawns on d4. In most games White plays d4-d5 either at once or soon afterwards.
xABCDEFGH 8-+-+-+ +( 7zppzp-+p+p' 6-+-zp-+p+& 5+-+Pzp-+-% 4-+P+P+-+$ 3+-+-+P+-# 2PzP-+-+PzP" 1+-+-+ +-! xabcdefghy xABCDEFGH 8-+-+-+-+( 7zpp+-zpp+p' 6-+-zp-+p+& 5+-zpP+-+-% 4-+P+P+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 1+-+-+ +-! xabcdefghy
A typical pawn formation in the King's Indian Defence after Black has played e7-e5 and White has replied d4-d5. Black's PAWN BREAK is f7-f5 to which White will often reply f2-f3 if he has not already played that move. One plan for Black is f5-f4 and a King-side pawn storm. White will play for c4-c5 followed by a major piece invasion on the c-file or an ending where Black has a bad dark squares Bishop.
A typical pawn formation in the King's Indian Defence (or Benoni) after Black has played c7-c5 and White has replied d4-d5. Here Black's PAWN BREAKS are e7-e6, playing in the centre, and b7-b5, which can sometimes be played as a pawn sacrifice, playing on the Queen side. White's PAWN BREAK is e4-e5, which will usually be preceded by f2-f4.
Ideas for White:
1.If you close the centre with d4-d5 go for your PAWN BREAK as quickly and efficiently as you can. 2.If you've played d4-d5 don't close the position on the side of the board where you're attacking. 3.Where Black has played e7-e5 and you've played d4d5 head for an ending where Black has a bad dark squared bishop. 4.If you have a space advantage try to avoid exchanges. 5.In some positions you can meet f7-f5 with e4xf5, but make sure Black cannot activate his g7 Bishop. 6. If you're playing Bc1-e3 and Qd1-d2 make sure you have a pawn on f3 or h3 to prevent Ng4.
Ideas for Black:
1.If White closes the centre with d4-d5 go for your PAWN BREAK as quickly and efficiently as you can. 2.If White has played d4-d5 don't close the position on the side of the board where you're attacking. 3.If White plays e4xf5 it's nearly always right to recapture with your g-pawn, not with a piece. 4.After e4xf5 g6xf5 consider a pawn sacrifice to activate your g6 Bishop. 5.If White plays f2-f3 in reply to f7-f5 throw your g- and h-pawns down the board. Be prepared to sac a piece to break down his defences. 6. If White plays Bc1-e3 in the opening the best reply, if it doesn't lose a piece, is Nf6-g4.
THE CLASSICAL VARIATION 1. d2-d4 Ng8-f6 2. c2-c4 g7-g6 3. Nb1-c3 Bf8-g7 4. e2-e4 d7-d6 5. Ng1-f3 0-0 6. Bf1-e2 e7-e5 XABCDEFGH 8rsnlwq-trk+( 7zppzp-+pvlp' 6-+-zp-snp+& 5+-+-zp-+-% 4-+PzPP+-+$ 3+-sN-+N+-# 2PzP-+LzPPzP" 1tR-vLQmK-+R! Xabcdefgh White's most popular set-up and an important tactical point. If 7. d4xe5 d6xe5 8. Nf3xe5, Black regains the pawn with a good position after Nf6xe4! (unmasking the g7 Bishop). The main line continues 7. 0-0 Nb8-c6 8. d4-d5 Nc6-e7. Other 7th moves are d4-d5 and 7. Bc1-e3. 7. d4xe5 is playable but boring.
THE SAEMISCH VARIATION 1. d2-d4 Ng8-f6 2. c2-c4 g7-g6 3. Nb1-c3 Bf8-g7 4. e2-e4 d7-d6 5. f2-f3 0-0 XABCDEFGHY 8rsnlwq-trk+( 7zppzp-zppvlp' 6-+-zp-snp+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+PzPP+-+$ 3+-sN-+P+-# 2PzP-+-+PzP" 1tR-vLQmKLsNR! xabcdefghy A strong and solid variation for White. In addition to his usual plans he has the idea of a King-side attack with Bc1-e3, Qd1-d2, 0-0-0, h2-h4, g2-g4, h4, Be3-h6 as in the Sicilian Dragon. Possible moves for Black after the usual 6. Bc1-e3 are the immediate 6. e7-e5 and 6. Nb8-c6, followed by a7-a6, perhaps Ra8-b8 and/or Rf8-e8 followed by either b7-b5 or e7-e5.
THE FOUR PAWNS ATTACK 1. d2-d4 Ng8-f6 2. c2-c4 g7-g6 3. Nb1-c3 Bf8-g7 4. e2-e4 d7-d6 5. f2-f4 0-0 XABCDEFGHY 8rsnlwq-trk+( 7zppzp-zppvlp' 6-+-zp-snp+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+PzPPzP-+$ 3+-sN-+-+-# 2PzP-+-+PzP" 1tR-vLQmKLsNR! xabcdefghy White's most aggressive formation. After the usual 6. Ng1-f3 Black's safest line is 6... c7-c5, and if 7. d4-d5, e7-e6 attacking White's big centre immediately. This line can be very dangerous if Black doesn't know how to meet it, but other, slightly less ambitious variations give White more chance of a lasting advantage.
THE FIANCHETTO VARIATION 1. d2-d4 Ng8-f6 2. c2-c4 g7-g6 3. Ng1-f3 Bf8-g7 4. g2-g3 d7-d6 5. Bf1-g2 0-0 XABCDEFGHY 8rsnlwq-trk+( 7zppzp-zppvlp' 6-+-zp-snp+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+PzP-+-+$ 3+-+-+NzP-# 2PzP-+PzPLzP" 1tRNvLQmK-+R! xabcdefghy A safe line for White, slightly less ambitious than the others we've looked at. White develops his King side quietly without overcommitting himself in the centre. After 6. 00 Black can play Nb8-d7 to prepare e7-e5, the immediate c7-c5 or Nb8-c6.
There are several openings in which Black plays an early c7-c5, following up with g7g6 and Bf8-g7 if White, as he usually does, plays d4-d5. The most popular of these is the MODERN BENONI, which starts 1. d2-d4 Ng8-f6 2. c2-c4 c7-c5 3. d4-d5 e7-e6 4. Nb1-c3 e6xd5 5. c4xd5 d7-d6, followed by g7-g6 and Bf8-g7 with play on the long diagonal, the e-file and the Queen side (with the pawn break b7-b5). XABCDEFGHY 8rsnlwqkvl-tr( 7zpp+-+pzpp' 6-+-zp-sn-+& 5+-zpP+-+-% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-sN-+-+-# 2PzP-+PzPPzP" 1tR-vLQmKLsNR! xabcdefgh
A related opening is the BENKO GAMBIT, where Black sacrifices a pawn to get his pawn break in at once: 1. d2-d4 Ng8-f6 2. c2-c4 c7-c5 3.d4-d5 b7-b5, and if 4. c4xb5, a7-a6 with open lines on the Queen side for the major pieces and a strong Bishop on g7. An opening which starts like the King's Indian Defence but is based on a very different idea is the GRUENFELD DEFENCE. After 1. d2-d4 Ng8-f6 2. c2-c4 g7-g6 3. Nb1-c3 Black plays d7-d5. The main line continues 4. c4xd5 Nf6xd5 5. e2-e4 Nd5xc3 6. b2xc3 Bf8-g7 when White's centre looks very strong but Black plans to attack it with c7-c5. XABCDEFGHY 8rsnlwqk+-tr( 7zppzp-zppvlp' 6-+-+-+p+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-zPP+-+$ 3+-zP-+-+-# 2P+-+-zPPzP" 1tR-vLQmKLsNR! xabcdefgh
KING'S INDIAN DEFENCE CLASSICAL VARIATION
KING'S INDIAN DEFENCE CLASSICAL FIANCHETTO
GRUENFELD DEFENCE Bf4 VARIATION
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 g7-g6 Nb1-c3 Bf8-g7 e2-e4 d7-d6 Ng1-f3 0-0 Bf1-e2 e7-e5 0-0 Nb8-c6
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 g7-g6 Ng1-f3 Bf8-g7 g2-g3 d7-d6 Bf1-g2 0-0 0-0 Nb8-d7 Nb1-c3 e7-e5
KING'S INDIAN DEFENCE PETROSIAN VARIATION
KING'S INDIAN DEFENCE YUGOSLAV VARIATION
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 g7-g6 Nb1-c3 Bf8-g7 e2-e4 d7-d6 Ng1-f3 0-0 Bf1-e2 e7-e5 d4-d5 a7-a5
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 g7-g6 Ng1-f3 Bf8-g7 g2-g3 d7-d6 Bf1-g2 0-0 0-0 c7-c5 Nb1-c3 Nb8-c6
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 g7-g6 Nb1-c3 d7-d5 Ng1-f3 Bf8-g7 Bc1-f4 0-0 e2-e3 c7-c5
GRUENFELD DEFENCE SCHLECHTER-SLAV VARIATION 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 g7-g6 g2-g3 d7-d5 Bf1-g2 Bf8-g7 Ng1-f3 0-0 0-0 c7-c6
KING'S INDIAN DEFENCE AVERBAKH VARIATION
KING'S INDIAN DEFENCE PANNO VARIATION
MODERN BENONI DEFENCE MAIN LINE
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 g7-g6 Nb1-c3 Bf8-g7 e2-e4 d7-d6 Bf1-e2 0-0 Bc1-g5 c7-c5
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 g7-g6 Ng1-f3 Bf8-g7 g2-g3 d7-d6 Bf1-g2 0-0 0-0 Nb8-c6 Nb1-c3 a7-a6
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 c7-c5 d4-d5 e7-e6 Nb1-c3 e6xd5 c4xd5 d7-d6 e2-e4 g7-g6 Ng1-f3 Bf8-g7
KING'S INDIAN DEFENCE FOUR PAWNS ATTACK
GRUENFELD DEFENCE CLASSICAL EXCHANGE
MODERN BENONI DEFENCE MIKENAS VARIATION
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 g7-g6 Nb1-c3 Bf8-g7 e2-e4 d7-d6 f2-f4 0-0 Ng1-f3 c7-c5
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 g7-g6 Nb1-c3 d7-d5 c4xd5 Nf6xd5 e2-e4 Nd5xc3 b2xc3 Bf8-g7 Bf1-c4 c7-c5
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 c7-c5 d4-d5 e7-e6 Nb1-c3 e6xd5 c4xd5 d7-d6 e2-e4 g7-g6 f2-f4 Bf8-g7
KING'S INDIAN DEFENCE ORTHODOX SAEMISCH
GRUENFELD DEFENCE MODERN EXCHANGE
MODERN BENONI DEFENCE FIANCHETTO VARIATION
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 g7-g6 Nb1-c3 Bf8-g7 e2-e4 d7-d6 f2-f3 0-0 Bc1-e3 e7-e5
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 g7-g6 Nb1-c3 d7-d5 c4xd5 Nf6xd5 e2-e4 Nd5xc3 b2xc3 Bf8-g7 Ng1-f3 0-0
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 c7-c5 d4-d5 e7-e6 Nb1-c3 e6xd5 c4xd5 d7-d6 Ng1-f3 g7-g6 g2-g3 Bf8-g7
KING'S INDIAN DEFENCE SAEMISCH PANNO
GRUENFELD DEFENCE SMYSLOV VARIATION
BENKO GAMBIT MAIN LINE
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 g7-g6 Nb1-c3 Bf8-g7 e2-e4 d7-d6 f2-f3 0-0 Bc1-e3 Nb8-c6 Ng1-e2 a7-a6
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 g7-g6 Nb1-c3 d7-d5 Ng1-f3 Bf8-g7 Qd1-b3 d5xc4 Qb3xc4 0-0
d2-d4 Ng8-f6 c2-c4 c7-c5 d4-d5 b7-b5 c4xb5 a7-a6 b5xa6 Bb8xa6 Nb1-c3 d7-d6 Ng1-f3 g7-g6
