King's Indian Attack

Key ideas for both sides

Plans and pawn structure

In the standard King's Indian Attack, White plays e4 and later e5, gaining space on the kingside. Then a knight heads for g4, h4 adds a pawn lever, and the queen and rooks follow toward Black's king. Black's play comes on the queenside, with ...b5, ...b4 and ...a5 to open lines there. If White chooses c4 instead, as in the engine lines, the game turns into a Réti type position where Black's ...d4 gains space and White aims at the center with e3 or b4.

What the King's Indian Attack is about

The King's Indian Attack is a setup for White rather than a fixed line. Here it comes after 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3: White prepares Bg2 and short castling, then decides how to fight for the center. The usual plan is d3, the b1 knight to d2 and e4, a King's Indian Defense with colors reversed and an extra tempo. A modern option, shown in the engine lines, is c4 to hit Black's d5 pawn from the side.

From this position White scored 53.6% in 13615 games. The engine's top replies, 2...Nf6, 2...c5 and 2...e6, all keep the game close to equal. Black has many good setups because White does not commit early.

The main variations

The Symmetrical Defense, 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6, is the most played line, with 1708 games. Black copies White's fianchetto and the game stays calm. In the Wahls Defense Black follows the same path but adds ...d5 after White's d3, and the engine slightly prefers Black there.

The Sicilian Variation, 2...c5, is one of the engine's top choices. White scored 56.6% in practice, but the engine line 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.O-O e6 5.c4 d4 6.d3 shows Black gaining space with ...d4. The French Variation, 3...Nc6, adds the knight and leads to the classic setup where White plays d3 and e4 against Black's pawns on c5 and d5.

The Keres Variation, 2...Bg4, develops the bishop and pins the knight before White can play e4 comfortably. White scored 56%. The Yugoslav Variation uses the same bishop move after ...c6.

The Omega-Delta Gambit, 2...e5, gives up a pawn, and the engine rates it clearly bad for Black. White scored 62.4%. Take the pawn and develop.

Typical plans for White

White's classic plan has three steps. First, finish the setup: Bg2, O-O, d3, the b1 knight to d2 and a rook on e1. Second, play e4 to challenge d5. Third, if Black allows it, push e5 to gain kingside space and cramp Black's knight on f6.

• The kingside attack. With a pawn on e5, White plays h4, brings a knight toward g4 and swings the queen to the kingside. The g2 bishop supports e4 and the later push f4 and f5.
• The c4 option. Against ...c5 and ...e6, the engine prefers c4. If Black answers ...d4, White gets a Benoni type game and uses e3 or b4 to break the chain.
• Taking free pawns. Against the Omega-Delta Gambit, the pawn on e5 is simply loose.

Typical plans for Black

Black's most reliable plan is a strong center and queenside space. With pawns on c5, d5 and e6, a knight on c6 and the f8 bishop on e7 or d6, Black is ready to meet e4 calmly. Then ...b5, ...b4 and ...a5 open the queenside, where White has fewer defenders.

• Pin the knight. The bishop on g4, as in the Keres Variation, slows e4 and e5 because the f3 knight cannot move freely.
• Gain space with ...d4. If White plays c4, the engine's answer ...d4 cramps White's pieces and fixes the center.
• Watch the kingside. Once White has e5, keep a knight near f8 or a pawn on h6 or h5 to slow the attack.

Mistakes club players make

• Playing e4 too early. Without d3 and the knight on d2, the e4 pawn can become loose.
• Forgetting the queenside as White. Black's ...b5 and ...b4 can arrive fast. A pawn on a4 or c4 slows it down.
• Black castling into a ready attack. After e5, h4 and a knight on g4, the king on g8 needs defenders.
• The Omega-Delta Gambit. Playing ...e5 this early gives a pawn for very little.
• Locking in the c8 bishop. If Black plays ...e6 early, find a role for the bishop on b7 or d7, or play the Keres with ...Bg4 first.

Who should play it

The King's Indian Attack suits White players who want a single setup against almost everything. The plans are easy to learn, the king is safe behind the fianchetto, and the kingside attack after e4 and e5 can be dangerous at club level.

The downside is that it does not promise White an edge. Black players should take the center and use the extra space, and the engine shows they get an equal game.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.14: level. Its three top choices for Black:

1. +0.14 2...Nf6 3.Bg2 c5 4.O-O e6 5.c4
2. +0.17 2...c5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.O-O e6 5.c4
3. +0.24 2...e6 3.c4 d4 4.d3 c5 5.e4

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

13,615 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 53.6%.

Light: White wins. Grey: draws. Dark: Black wins. About the sample.

Variations of the King's Indian Attack

• Sicilian Variation2...c5 · 1,203 games
• Keres Variation2...Bg4 · 711 games
• Omega-Delta Gambit2...e5 · 206 games
• Double Fianchetto2...g6 · 179 games
• Pachman System2...g6 · rare
• Agincourt Defense, Neo-Catalan Declined2...Nf6 · rare

How to play against it

As Black, take the center while White develops. A setup with ...d5, ...c5, ...Nc6 and ...e6 gives you space and clear queenside plans. Avoid the Omega-Delta Gambit, ...e5, which loses a pawn for little. Once White plays e4 and e5, expect a kingside attack and make sure your queenside play is fast.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d5.

Questions

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.