Classic System (King's Indian Defense)

	a	b	c	d	e	f	G	H
8th									8th
7th									7th
6th									6th
5									5
4th									4th
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	G	H

Basic position of the classical system of the King's Indian Defense after 6. Bf1 – e2

The classic system of the King's Indian Defense is an opening of the game of chess .

The classic system of the King's Indian Defense often arises according to the moves ( see also: Chess notation ):

1. d2-d4 Ng8-f6

2. c2-c4 g7-g6

3. Nb1-c3 Bf8-g7

4. e2 – e4 d7 – d6

5. Ng1-f3 0-0

6. Bf1 – e2

Main variants and opening ideas

White's setup with 6. Bf1 – e2, in contrast to Bf1 – d3 for example, does not weaken the cover of the d4 pawn (by the white queen). He even prevents the pin move ... Bc8 – g4, which supports the strategic battle over the central point d4.

Possible black answer moves include:

• 6.… Bc8 – g4 , the Westerinen variant. 7. Bc1 – e3 Nf6 – d7 prepares ... e7 – e5 and then wants to force the advance d4 – d5 by putting pressure on the pawn d4.
• 6.… c7 – c5 , which after 7. d4 – d5 e7 – e6 in Benoni positions or after 7.… c5xd4 8. Nf3xd4 leads to the accelerated dragon variant .
• 6.… Nb8 – a6 and
• 6.… e7 – e5 , the main answer to the classical system.
  • After 7. 0–0 there are 2 strategies for Black:
    • The clarification of the central structure through 7.… Nb8 – c6 8. d4 – d5 Nc6 – e7 to a pawn chain to attack the kingside undisturbed, the so-called Mar del Plata variant . The international master Lev Aronin advocated this around 1950 . (Maintaining the tension with 8. Bc1 – e3 results in a simplification after 8.… Rf8 – e8 9. d4 – d5 Nc6 – d4 10. Nf3xd4 e5xd4 11. Be3xd4 Nf6xe4.)
      • White often prepared his advance on the queenside with the regrouping 9. Nf3 – e1 Nf6 – d7 10. Ne1 – d3.
      • In the 1990s, the so-called bayonet attack with 9 b2 – b4 became popular. To Black's reply 9.… Nf6 – h5, White can regroup rook and bishop with 10. Rf1 – e1 and on 10.… Nh5 – f4 11. Be2 – f1. This gives him a solid defensive position around his king and pressure play in the center. On 10.… f7 – f5 the white king knight goes over g5 to e6 and brings unrest into the black back space and into the center.
    • Pressure against e4 after opening the e-file: 7.… e5xd4 8. Nf3xd4 Rf8 – e8 9. f2 – f3 Nb8 – c6. The maneuver 10. Bc1 – e3 Nf6 – h5 11. f3 – f4 Nh5 – f6 comes from Igor Glek .
    • With 7.… Nb8 – d7 8. Rf1 – e1 c7 – c6 9. Be2 – f1 a7 – a5 Black prepares the Boleslawski wall, in which Nd7 is led to c5. White can use this delay of ... e5xd4 to complete the center with d4 – d5.

Other alternatives for white are:

• • 7. d4xe5 d6xe5 8. Qd1xd8 Rf8xd8, the exchange variant.
  • 7. d4 – d5 a7 – a5 8. Bc1 – g5, the Petrosian system.
  • 7. Bc1 – e3 , the Gligorić variant,
    • which is directed against 7.… Nb8 – c6 8. d4 – d5 Nc6 – e7, because now 9. Nf3 – d2 prevents the maneuver ... Nf6 – h5. After 9.… Nf6 – e8 10. g2 – g4 f7 – f5 11. g4xf5 g6xf5 12. e4xf5 Bc8xf5 13. Nd2 – e4 conquers the blockade e4. As in the Makogonow variant , white can castle for a long time and attack the kingside.
    • Black therefore prefers to move 7.… Nf6 – g4 8. Be3 – g5 f7 – f6.
    • 7.… c7 – c6 is also good , whereupon both 8. d4 – d5, 8. 0–0 and 8. Qd1 – d2 are played.

literature

• Svetozar Gligorić : The King's Indian Defense . Mar del Plata variation. Batsford , London 2002, ISBN 0-7134-8767-4 (English).
• Vasilios Kotronias : Kotronias on the King's Indian . Mar del Plata I. Volume 2 . Quality Chess , Glasgow 2015, ISBN 978-1-907982-55-2 (English).
• Vasilios Kotronias: Kotronias on the King's Indian . Mar del Plata II Volume 3 . Quality Chess, Glasgow 2015, ISBN 978-1-907982-56-9 (English).
• Vasilios Kotronias: Kotronias on the King's Indian . Classical Systems. tape 4 . Quality Chess, Glasgow 2016, ISBN 978-1-78483-020-5 (English).
• Alexei Kornev : A practical Black Repertoire with Nf6, g6, d6 . The King's Indian Defense. tape 2 . Chess Stars , Sofia 2016, ISBN 978-6-19718810-3 (English).

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Nick de Firmian (Ed.): Batsford Modern Chess Openings. London 2000: BT Batsford Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7134-8656-8 , pp. 568-571.
2. ↑ Gligorić variant 7. Be3 c6 8. d5: Karpow-Kasparow, World Cup 1990, game 19 at chessgames.com
3. ↑ Gligorić variant 7. Be3 c6 8. 0–0: Gustafsson-Kramnik, Dortmund 2012 at chessgames.com