Indian · a defense for Black

King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Byrne Defense

14/14
1.d4Nf62.c4g63.Nc3Bg74.e4d65.f3O-O6.Be3c67.Bd3a6
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Byrne Defense19k games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
73%14k52%
13%2.4k55%
12%2.2k50%
0.5%9942%
0.4%7941%
0.4%7359%
0.3%5940%
0.3%5841%
0.3%5552%
0.1%2330%
Famous games in this line157 master games
Topalov, V. (2760) – Nakamura, Hi (2779)2016½–½Karpov, Anatoly (2730) – Kasparov, Garry (2800)1990½–½Topalov, Veselin (2770) – Van Wely, Loek (2692)2012½–½Lenic, L. (2656) – Shimanov, A. (2626)20180–1Macieja, Bartlomiej (2624) – Socko, Bartosz (2643)2010½–½Portisch, Lajos (2640) – Hort, Vlastimil (2600)19791–0Timman, Jan H (2625) – Petrosian, Tigran V (2610)1979½–½Salem, AR Saleh (2531) – Movsesian, Sergei (2699)20131–0
Heroes of this opening Shimanov, A. · Portisch, Lajos · Salem, AR Saleh
Family
King's Indian Defense
Category
Indian
First move
1.d4
ECO
E81
Line
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 c6 7. Bd3 a6
FianchettoSharpHypermodern
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Nearby lines in the family
King's Indian Defense: Averbakh Variation, Main Line5.Be2 O-O 6.Bg5 c5 7.d5 e6King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Glek Defense5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Na6King's Indian Defense: Sämisch Variation, Panno Formation6…Nc6 7.Nge2 a6
From the archives

Regarded as suspect until the mid-1930s, the King's Indian was rehabilitated by Boleslavsky, Bronstein and Konstantinopolsky, then carried by Fischer and Kasparov. The plan: let White build the big centre, lock it, and throw every kingside pawn at the enemy king — Kasparov's ...g3 pawn storm against Piket at Tilburg 1989 is the picture of it.

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