King's Indian Attack

King's Indian Attack is a chess opening with the ECO code A07. It goes 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3. White opens with 1. Nf3 (the Zukertort/Réti knight move) and Black answers 1... d5. After 3 moves it is Black to move. The lesson on the board explains every move of the line and lets you play it yourself; it is free.

The moves

• 1. Nf3 – White plays the knight to f3
• 1... d5 – Black plays the pawn to d5
• 2. g3 – White plays the pawn to g3

In chessGM's opening book this position continues with 2... c5, 2... Nf6.

About the King's Indian Attack

White sets up Nf3, g3, Bg2, O-O, d3 and later e4: a King's Indian with colours reversed. It is an easy system against almost anything.

• White plays Nbd2, e4 and often e5 to gain kingside space.
• With a pawn on e5, White attacks with Nf1, h4 and Ng5 or Nh2-g4.
• Black usually expands on the queenside with ...c5, ...b5 and ...b4.

chessGM has a full course for this line: open the King's Indian Attack course lesson.

Related openings

• It extends: Zukertort Opening (1. Nf3 d5)
• Continues with: King's Indian Attack: Double Fianchetto – adds 2... g6
• Continues with: King's Indian Attack: Keres Variation – adds 2... Bg4
• Continues with: King's Indian Attack: Keres Variation – adds 2... c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O
• Continues with: King's Indian Attack: Omega-Delta Gambit – adds 2... e5
• Continues with: King's Indian Attack: Sicilian Variation – adds 2... c5
• Continues with: English Opening: Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined – adds 2... Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O
• Continues with: Queen's Pawn Game: Symmetrical Variation, Pseudo-Catalan – adds 2... c6 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. O-O
• Related line: King's Indian Attack: Wahls Defense (1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O O-O 5. d3 d5)
• Related line: King's Indian Attack: Double Fianchetto (1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6)
• Related line: King's Indian Attack: Symmetrical Defense (1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6)
• Related line: King's Indian Attack: Keres Variation (1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4)
• Related line: King's Indian Attack: Spassky Variation (1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b5)
• Related line: King's Indian Attack: Keres Variation (1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7)

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