The King's Indian Attack: six moves against everything

The key idea

The set-up is always the same. Against a black pawn centre on d5 and e6, the plan is e4 and then e5, with a kingside attack. Against a centre closed by a black pawn on e5, the plan is to route the d2 knight via c4 and e3 towards d5. The opening gives no advantage: it gives a clear plan against an opponent who often has none.

Example 1 · Against the French formation: the e4 advance

Black has built pawns on d5 and e6. White to move, set-up already in place.

1. c3 My whole scheme is up: knight on f3, pawn on g3, bishop on g2, castled, pawn on d3 and knight on d2. Six moves I'll play almost every time. Now c3, which supports the advance to come.
2. Qc7 He develops and prepares his play in the centre.
3. e4 Here's the point of everything before it. My e4 pawn leans on d3 and on the queen, and behind it e5 is coming: when that pawn reaches e5, my g2 bishop and my knight will point at the black king and the game gets played on one wing only.
4. Nc6 He finishes developing.
5. Qe2 The queen goes behind the pawn. Notice that I've spent seven moves without once looking at what my opponent is doing: that's exactly what you buy when you play a system.
6. b5 And he starts his plan, which is the queenside.
7. Re1 Rook to the e-file, behind the pawn that wants to advance. A completely level position according to the engine — and here it's worth being precise: the King's Indian Attack gives no advantage, it gives a position with a clear attacking plan against an opponent who may have none.
8. Qb6 He presses on the other wing. Each to his own.

Example 2 · Against the Sicilian formation: the knight to d5

Black has played c5 and fianchettoed. Same white scheme, different plan. White to move.

1. a4 First of all, I stop his ...b5. It's the same prophylaxis you saw in the Benoni: spending a move to prevent something your opponent hasn't done yet, when you know for certain he will.
2. O-O He puts the king safe.
3. c3 I prop up the centre. Identical to the previous example even though his position looks nothing like it — that's the entire argument for playing a system.
4. e5 He closes the centre. With the middle door shut, the pieces have to find routes.
5. Nc4 And my knight finds its own: d2-c4, eyeing d6 and b6, the squares his advance has just weakened.
6. h6 He takes squares from my pieces.
7. Ne3 Second hop, heading for d5. A knight that reaches d5 in a closed position is worth more than any bishop — and I've built this one the road in two moves.
8. Be6 He defends the square. A level position. Both games in this lesson start with the same six white moves and continue with different plans: against his pawn centre, push e4-e5; against his closed centre, knight to d5.

Practice

You're playing the King's Indian Attack with White against a pawn centre. Support, push e4 and place the pieces behind it.

1. You support the advance before making it. In a system, the order is decided in advance. Prop up with a pawn the square you're going to push from.
2. The advance that gives the previous six moves their point. Behind it comes e5, and with it the attack. Push the king's pawn two squares.
3. The queen behind the pawn, supporting the coming advance and connecting the rooks. Place the queen on the file of the pawn that wants to keep advancing.
4. Rook to the e-file. A level position and a clear plan: e5 and attack, while he plays on the other wing. Put the rook behind the e4 pawn.

The King's Indian Attack answers a very specific question: can I have an attacking plan without studying theory? Yes, in exchange for giving up the opening edge. Build it the same way every time — Nf3, g3, Bg2, castle, d3, Nbd2 — and pick your plan by looking at your opponent's centre: if he has pawns on d5 and e6, prop up with c3, push e4 and then e5, and attack on the kingside; if he closes the centre with e5, route the knight via c4 to d5. A knight on d5 in a closed position is worth more than any bishop, and you build this one the road in two moves.