King's Indian Defense

The King's Indian Defense is a response to d4 in which Black develops Nf6, plays ...g6, fianchettoes the bishop to g7, and usually supports the position with ...d6. A fianchetto means advancing the g-pawn and developing the bishop behind it onto the long diagonal.

It is a hypermodern defense: Black allows White to occupy the center with pawns, often on c4, d4, and e4, and later attacks them with pawn breaks, pawn moves such as ...e5 or ...c5 that challenge the center. If White closes the center with d5, many lines feature ...f5 and kingside play for Black while White may gain space on the queenside.

The King's Indian allows the center before attacking it

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StartNc3Bg7e4d6

Nc3 and e4 form a connected plan: the knight supports the broad center White wants to build.

The two sides prepare opposing plans

White wants to expand in the center, while Black completes the fianchetto without occupying it immediately.

1. Nc3 and e4 form a connected plan: the knight supports the broad center White wants to build.
2. ...Bg7 completes Black's fianchetto and reserves the central fight for later pawn breaks.

White has several major approaches. The Sämisch Variation uses f3 to reinforce e4; the Fianchetto Variation develops White's bishop to g2; and the Four Pawns Attack builds a very broad center with f4.