for Black · advanced
King's Indian Defense
6/6
1.d4Nf62.c4g63.Nc3Bg7
Black allows White a big pawn centre, fianchettoes, and launches a kingside pawn storm to counterattack with pieces. It is one of the most aggressive answers to 1.d4.
Key ideas
- Let White build the centre, then strike with ...e5
- Launch a kingside pawn avalanche with ...f5, ...g5, and ...f4
- Play on the kingside while White attacks on the queenside
- Accept mutual attack and aim to mate first
Live databaseLichess 1600–2000 · blitz + rapid
King's Indian Defense14.8M games · White to move
MoveWhite / draw / BlackPlayedGamesScore
18%2.6M50%
6.6%974k49%
4.2%625k49%
3.9%575k47%
2%295k52%
0.7%100k49%
0.3%50k50%
0.3%44k51%
0.2%26k47%
Famous games in this line80k master games
Carlsen, M. (2881) – Grischuk, A. (2792)Aronian, Levon (2802) – Carlsen, Magnus (2861)Mamedyarov, S. (2814) – Carlsen, M. (2843)Ding, Liren (2791) – Carlsen, Magnus (2863)Carlsen, Magnus (2863) – Ding, Liren (2791)Mamedyarov, S. (2808) – Carlsen, M. (2843)Carlsen, M. (2872) – Grischuk, A. (2777)Mamedyarov, S. (2771) – Carlsen, M. (2864)Heroes of this opening Carlsen, Magnus · Mamedyarov, S.
Keep exploring
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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.
Study this opening