King's Indian Attack
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2
A system for White — the same setup works against almost anything.
Famous practitioners: Bobby Fischer, Levon Aronian
Starting position
0 / 5 moves
Key Ideas
- ♟System opening: Nf3, g3, Bg2, 0-0, d3, Nbd2, e4
- ♟Works against French, Sicilian, and many other structures
- ♟Bobby Fischer's favorite White system
♔ Plans for White
- —Set up Nf3, g3, Bg2, 0-0, d3, Nbd2
- —Play e4 and e5 to gain kingside space
- —Transfer a knight to the kingside for an attack (Nf1-e3/h4)
- —Push h4-h5 in some lines for a direct attack
♚ Plans for Black
- —Develop solidly and fight for the center
- —Play …c5 and …Nc6 for queenside activity
- —Prevent e4-e5 if possible
⚠️ Common Traps & Pitfalls
e5 Space Grab
Once White achieves e5, the position can become very cramping for Black. Prevention is key.
📍 Critical Positions
King's Indian Attack Setup
White will play Bg2, 0-0, d3, Nbd2: a universal system that's hard to defuse.
rnbqkb1r/ppp1pppp/5n2/3p4/8/5NP1/PPPPPP1P/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 2 3Are you leaking games in the King's Indian Attack?
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Related Openings
English Opening
1.c4
Control the center from the flank — flexible and positional.
Réti Opening
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4
Hypermodern flexibility — develop knights before pawns.
Catalan Opening
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3
Fianchetto the bishop and squeeze — a modern grandmaster favorite.
Bird's Opening
1.f4
An aggressive flank opener — seize e5 and attack the kingside.