Chess opening · ECO A07
King's Indian Attack
Setup matters more than move order in the King's Indian Attack. After 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3, White plans Bg2, castling, d3, Nbd2 and then e4, building the same formation Black uses in the King's Indian Defense but with a move in hand. The pieces stay behind the pawns at first, and the game turns sharp only once White pushes the e-pawn up the board.
- Rank by weighted share
- #119 of 159
Key moves
1. Nf3 d5 2. g3
- 1. Nf3The knight covers e5 and d4 and keeps the c- and d-pawns unmoved, so White can still choose a setup. It also clears g1, so White can castle once g3 and Bg2 are in.
- 2. g3Prepares Bg2 and short castling. Once on g2, the bishop sits behind the f3 knight, and its long diagonal opens as soon as the knight moves. With the knight on f3 and the bishop on g2, White's king will be castled behind a pawn wall on f2, g3 and h2.
Why White waits before playing e4
White first tucks the king away and puts the queen's knight on d2, where it supports the e4 push without blocking the c-pawn. Only then does the e-pawn advance, backed by the d3 pawn, the d2 knight and often a rook on e1.
If Black has played ...e6 and ...d5, the e4 push asks a question of the d5 pawn. Black can trade on e4, keep the tension, or let White push on to e5.
The pawn on e5 and the race that follows
When the pawn reaches e5, it takes f6 away from Black's knight and cramps the black kingside. White then brings pieces toward the black king: a knight via f1 to h2 or e3, the h-pawn up to h4 and h5, sometimes a bishop to f4.
Black usually answers on the other wing, with ...b5, ...b4 and ...a5, pushing pawns at the queenside to open files there. The two sides attack on opposite flanks, so speed matters more than neatness.
Against a French-style setup
2... Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. d3 c5 6. Nbd2 Nc6 7. e4 O-O 8. Re1
White's rook on e1 adds a third piece behind the e4 pawn. Black has a broad center on c5 and d5 and space on the queenside, while White is ready to push e5 and turn toward the black king.
Top replies by rating
Nc6 leads from 1200 to 1799. From 1800 up, c5 and Nf6 take over, and c6 climbs into the top three.
| Rating | Top | Second | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1200 | Nc6 52% | e6 48% | – |
| 1200–1399 | Nc6 23% | Nf6 19% | Bg4 17% |
| 1400–1599 | Nc6 28% | Nf6 16% | Bg4 14% |
| 1600–1799 | Nc6 26% | c5 23% | Nf6 13% |
| 1800–1999 | c5 29% | Nf6 22% | c6 14% |
| 2000 and up | Nf6 27% | c6 25% | c5 22% |
Related openings
Try it on the board. The first coached game and three analyses are free.