King's Indian Attack

Why the King's Indian Attack is worth training

The King's Indian Attack is a setup more than a fixed move order. White plays Nf3, g3, Bg2, O-O, d3, Nbd2, and e4, the King's Indian Defense structure with the colors reversed. Against Black's ...d5, ...c5, and ...e6, White often pushes e5 and attacks on the kingside while Black expands on the queenside.

Chessmate has a King's Indian Attack course for White with eleven lines and a King's Indian Attack course for Black with six lines. The Black course teaches an early ...Bg4 setup against White's kingside fianchetto.

The Fischer attack sample line

In White's sample line, Black chooses the classical setup with 1...d5, 2...c5, 3...Nc6, and 4...e6. White completes the setup with 5.d3, 6.Nbd2, and 7.e4, and after 7...O-O White gains space with 8.e5. The knight on f6 has to leave, and after 8...Nd7 White supports the pawn with 9.Re1.

Black expands with 9...b5, and White reroutes with 10.Nf1, heading for h2 or e3. After 10...b4 11.h4 a5 12.Bf4 a4, both sides are racing on opposite wings. White answers with 13.a3, challenging the b-pawn before it fixes White's queenside.

The ...Ne8 retreat and the kingside build-up

Black can also retreat with 8...Ne8. After 9.Re1 b5 10.h4 Nc7 11.a3, White slows Black's queenside expansion before turning to the kingside. The knight travels with 12.Nf1 and 13.N1h2, and then 14.Ng5 puts pressure on h7 and e6.

After 14...Nd4, White brings the queen with 15.Qh5. White now has a concrete target on h7, and Black has to defend the kingside before the queenside play matters.

Black's ...Bg4 sample line

In the Black course sample line, Black meets 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 with 2...Bg4, developing the bishop before ...e6 and putting immediate pressure on the knight on f3. After 3.Bg2 Nd7 4.O-O c6 5.d3 e6, Black has a compact pawn chain on c6, d5, and e6. When White asks with 6.h3, the bishop stays on the diagonal with 6...Bh5.

White plays 7.e4, and Black develops with 7...Bd6. After 8.exd5 cxd5, the c-file is half-open for Black. Following 9.c4 Ne7 10.Nc3 O-O, Black's king is safe, and Black can choose between taking on c4 or keeping the central tension.

Other setups and early deviations

The White course also covers setups where Black avoids a quick e5. Against a reversed London with ...Bf5, White plays 7.Qe1 and 8.e4, trades the defender with 11.Nxd7, and then pushes 12.e5. Against ...c5 and ...d6, White switches plans with c3 and d4. Against a symmetrical fianchetto, a King's Indian setup, a Queen's Indian setup, and the Dutch, White chooses between e5, d4, and queenside space with b4.

In the Black course, White can leave the standard setup early. Against 4.c4, Black waits for d3 and then takes with ...dxc4. Against 4.d4, Black develops naturally with ...Ngf6 and ...Be7. Against 4.h3, Black trades with ...Bxf3, and against the early 3.Ne5, Black retreats with 3...Bf5 and later removes the knight with ...Nxe5.

What to train first

Pick the course for the color you play.

• If you play the King's Indian Attack as White, start with the King's Indian Attack course for White. Learn the Fischer attack sample line first, then the 8...Ne8 line, so you know how the kingside attack builds after e5.
• If you face 1.Nf3 and 2.g3 as Black, start with the King's Indian Attack course for Black. Learn the ...Bg4 sample line first, then White's early 4.c4 and 4.d4 deviations.
• Whichever side you play, watch the timing of e5 and the queenside pawn storm. Many King's Indian Attack games become a race on opposite wings.

The King's Indian Attack is a flexible system that White can use against many Black setups. Train the lines until you know which break fits each structure.