The King's Indian Attack is a universal set-up for White: 1.Nf3, g3, Bg2, 0-0, d3, Nbd2 and the central e4 break. In essence it is the King's Indian Defence with White a tempo up, and it can be played against almost any black formation. The main branches are gathered here: the classical formation, the double fianchetto and the Sicilian structure. At each branching point, choose which line to play.
The dimmed moves are the rest of the main line, and the dots mark branching points. Click any move to jump to that position.
The thin arrow on the board shows the next move.
You can also play the move on the board: pick the piece up and put it on the square.
The starting position. Choose your moves - at a branching point several continuations are available.
The King's Indian Attack is the King's Indian Defence played by White with an extra tempo. White sets up in the familiar way - Nf3, g3, Bg2, 0-0, d3, Nbd2 - and prepares the central e4 break, after which he unfolds an attack on the kingside.
The main idea is universality: White plays almost the same way against very different black formations, without going into the specific theory of their defences. It is enough to understand the standard attacking plans after e4-e5.
The King's Indian Attack is especially effective against the French, the Sicilian and the Caro-Kann. Bobby Fischer and Mikhail Botvinnik handled it superbly, turning a quiet opening into a formidable attacking machine.
If Black builds a French structure (...e6, ...d5), White plays e4-e5, locks the centre and storms the kingside with Nf1-h2, h4 and so on. That is the classic killer plan of the King's Indian Attack.
Against a double fianchetto by Black (...g6) a symmetrical manoeuvring game arises, while against a Sicilian structure (...c5) White plays against the king, relying on his extra tempo. Either way White's key resource is a timely e4 break.
The King's Indian Attack is the King's Indian Defence played by White with an extra tempo. The set-up is the same against almost any reply: Nf3, g3, Bg2, 0-0, d3, Nbd2, e4 - and only then do you choose a plan.
The main idea is a kingside advance: e4-e5, Nf1-g3 or h4, Bf4, Qe2, with the h- and g-pawns rolling forward. The classic example is against a French structure, where Black has shut in his own bishop.
The upside is that there is nothing to learn: one set-up works against ...d5, ...c5, ...e6, ...g6 and almost everything else. The downside is that White voluntarily gives up the fight for an opening advantage and plays a long positional game.
Against a one-track set-up, seizing the centre and setting up actively works. A good plan is ...d5, ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...e5, developing the bishop to f5 or g4 before White plays e4.
The key point is not to let White play e4-e5 in peace. The moment that pawn reaches e5, White has a ready-made attack; until it does, Black has more space and the better structure.
The second recipe is the fianchetto ...g6 and ...Bg7 with symmetry. If both sides stand identically, White's extra tempo means little and the game comes down to manoeuvring, where mistakes are harder to make.
The typical set-ups this opening leads to - learn them, and the plan follows by itself.
White has completed the set-up and played e4. The typical plan follows: e5, Nf1-h2-g4 and a kingside attack - just as in the King's Indian Defence, but a tempo up.
These are the main named variations. Click any one of them and it loads straight onto the board above, where you can play it out move by move. The trainer itself holds more lines than this: it also covers main-line continuations and transpositions that have no name of their own.
What to avoid, and what catches an unprepared opponent.
The set-up's universality is also its weakness. If Black has taken the centre and is ready for e4, playing on autopilot leads to a worse position.
Let Black spend a couple of moves on the wrong thing and White plays e5, after which the attack on the king unfolds by itself.
Traps in other openings - the 12 most common opening traps.
It is the same scheme, but played by White and with an extra tempo. In the King's Indian Defence Black concedes the centre and counterattacks; in the King's Indian Attack White does the same thing - only a move earlier, which noticeably improves his attacking chances.
Above all against the French, the Sicilian and the Caro-Kann. White gets a familiar set-up and a clear attacking plan on the kingside while avoiding the detailed theory of those defences.
Bobby Fischer used it brilliantly (especially against the French and the Sicilian), as did Mikhail Botvinnik. In their hands a quiet-looking opening turned into a powerful attacking machine with the e4-e5 break and an assault on the king.
Yes, very. White sets up almost identically against everything and follows a clear plan: e4, e5, attack the king. Minimal theory and a clear idea make the King's Indian Attack an excellent universal weapon for beginners.
Want the tactics that decide these positions? Start with the 12 most common opening traps and tactics for beginners. If you are just starting out, read the rules of chess and how to set up the board.
Достаточно приложения и людей, готовых сесть за доску. Форматов три, все бесплатные, а число турниров и участников ничем не ограничено.
Vibe Chess проводит шахматные тусовки — вечера-нетворкинги в городах России - Москве, Санкт-Петербурге, Казани, Екатеринбурге, Новосибирске и других. Для компаний проводим корпоративные шахматные турниры, а все города и форматы собраны на главной странице.
Открой приложение Vibe Chess - там расписание встреч и шахматных мероприятий в разных городах России, запись и твои турниры.
