Chess Openings Lab
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King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack

The Four Pawns Attack is 5.f4, putting pawns on c4, d4, e4 and f4 to grab as much space as possible. White hopes to push e5 and crush Black's position, while Black must hit back at once with ...c5 and sometimes a ...b5 pawn sacrifice.

Moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4
ECO
E76, E77
Engine
+0.23 · level (Stockfish 17.1, depth 20)
Played
2,138 games in our lichess sample
White scores
52.7%

Key ideas for both sides

White

  • After ...c5 play d5, closing the long diagonal and keeping the big pawn wedge.
  • Prepare e5 with Nf3 and Be2; a timely e5 push can drive the f6 knight away and split Black.
  • Against ...b5, the engine takes with cxb5 and then holds the pawn with a4.
  • Castle short quickly; the pawns in front are strong but leave the king a little airy.

Black

  • Strike with ...c5 at once, the top engine choice, before White finishes Nf3.
  • Answer d5 with ...e6 and ...exd5 to open the e-file against White's uncastled king.
  • A ...b5 gambit, as in the first engine line, opens the a- and b-files for rooks.
  • Keep the knight ready to jump to d7 or e8 if e5 comes, and hit back with ...f6.

Plans and pawn structure

White's four center pawns look powerful but need support. If White gets Nf3, Be2 and O-O, the e5 push can become strong. Black's job is to attack the chain at once: ...c5, then ...e6 and ...exd5 to open the e-file, or ...b5 to open queenside files. After cxd5 the structure is Benoni-like, and the f4 and e4 pawns can become targets for ...Re8 and ...Nbd7. Timing matters more than long plans.

What the engine plays from here

Stockfish 17.1 at depth 20 rates the position +0.23: level. Its three top choices for Black:

  1. +0.23 5...c5 6.d5 O-O 7.Be2 b5 8.cxb5
  2. +0.26 5...O-O 6.Nf3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Be2
  3. +0.64 5...a6 6.Nf3 O-O 7.Bd3 Bg4 8.Be3

Pawns, from White's side.

How it scores on lichess

2,138 rated lichess games reached this position; White scored 52.7%.

1200–159955.2%
1600–199951.6%
2000 and up54.1%

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

Where it goes next

  • Four Pawns Attack, Modern Defense5...Na6 · rare
  • Six Pawns Attack5...O-O · rare

How to play against it

As Black, do not wait: play ...c5 next and follow up with ...e6 or ...b5. Avoid slow moves like ...a6 that give White time for Nf3 and Bd3. If White pushes e5 too early, undermine it with ...dxe5 and ...f6 rather than retreating passively.

Other lines with this name

The lichess opening list also files this line under the same name, though it reaches a different position: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.f4.

Questions

What are the moves of the King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack?

The King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack starts 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4. Its ECO code is E76, E77.

Is the King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack good for White?

Stockfish 17.1 rates the position +0.23 at depth 20, which is level. In 2,138 lichess games from our sample, White scored 52.7%. A sharp choice for aggressive White players who know the theory, and for Black it rewards quick, concrete counterplay over slow setup moves.

What is the main idea of the King's Indian Defense: Four Pawns Attack?

White uses four pawns to grab space and threaten e5. Black counters with an immediate ...c5, then opens lines with ...e6 or ...b5 before White can complete development.

What should Black play next?

The engine's first choice is c5, with O-O and a6 close behind. ...c5 attacks d4 at once, forcing White to close with d5 before the kingside is developed.

Updated October 2026. Sources and method.