King's Indian Attack

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Typical KIA setup for White against a semi-open defense by Black.The King's Indian Attack (KIA) is a chess opening system for white, most notably used by Bobby Fischer. Its typical formation is shown in the diagram to the right.

The opening is not a series of specific moves, but rather a "system" that can be played from many different move orders. Though the KIA is often reached via 1.e4 followed by d3, Nd2, Ngf3, g3, Bg2, and 0-0, it can also arise from 1. g3, 1. Nf3, or even 1. d3.

By its nature, the KIA is a closed, strategic opening that presents its practitioner with common themes and tactics and a comfortable middlegame against various defences.

The KIA is often used against the semi-open defences where Black responds asymmetrically to e4, such as in the French Defence, Sicilian Defence, or Caro-Kann Defence. Yet it can also be played against Black's more common closed defenses, usually through a move order that begins with 1. Nf3 and a later fianchetto of the white square bishop. For this reason, transpositions to the Réti Opening, Catalan Opening, English opening or even the Nimzo-Larsen Attack (after b3 and Bb2) are not uncommon.

The KIA is a mirror image of the setup adopted by Black in the King's Indian Defense. Yet, because of White's extra tempo, the nature of the subsequent play is often different from that of a typical King's Indian Defence.

The KIA is considered a solid opening choice for White, although less ambitious than many more popular openings. Though rarely used at the highest levels except to avoid certain pet lines, it is extremely popular at the club level, because it is easier to learn than other openings that require memorizing specific move orders to avoid outright losing positions.

White's most common plan involves a central pawn push, e4-e5, leading to a central bind, kingside space, and concrete attacking chances on a kingside-castled black king. Black's resources – more queenside space for example – are not to be underestimated. In fact, this asymmetry often leads to violent middlegames and neatly constructed mating nets involving the sacrifice of multiple pieces.

Famous games

Here is perhaps the most famous example of the King's Indian Attack:

Fischer-Myagmarsuren, Sousse Interzonal 1967 1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.g3 c5 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Ngf3 Be7 7.O-O O-O 8.e5 Nd7 9.Re1 b5 10.Nf1 b4 11.h4 a5 12.Bf4 a4 13.a3 bxa3 14.bxa3 Na5 15.Ne3 Ba6 16.Bh3 d4 17.Nf1 Nb6 18.Ng5 Nd5 19.Bd2 Bxg5 20.Bxg5 Qd7 21.Qh5 Rfc8 22.Nd2 Nc3 23.Bf6 Qe8 24.Ne4 g6 25.Qg5 Nxe4 26.Rxe4 c4 27.h5 cxd3 28.Rh4 Ra7 29.Bg2 dxc2 30.Qh6 Qf8 31.Qxh7+ 1-0 [cite web | url=http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1044267 | title=Robert James Fischer vs Lhamsuren Myagmarsuren (1967) "A Night In Tunisia" | publisher=Chessgames.com | accessdate=2007-04-19]

Another example is the fifth game of the 1997 match Deep Blue versus Garry Kasparov.

Notes

References

* Smith, Ken and Hall, John (1988): King’s Indian Attack – A Complete Opening System also a Weapon to be used against …, Dallas Texas: Chess Digest, ISBN 0-87568-174-3
* Dunnington, Angus (1998): The Ultimate King’s Indian Attack, London: B.T.Batsford Ltd, ISBN 0-7134-8222-2
* Eggers, Heiko (2005): Die Theorie der Eröffnung - Königsindischer Angriff - Das Spielsystem mit dem Aufbau Sf3/g3/d3/Lg2/0-0/Sbd2/, Norderstedt: Books on Demand, ISBN 3-8334-3194-6
* Emms, John (2005): starting out: king’s Indian attack, London: Everyman Chess, ISBN 1-85744-394-2

Further reading

* Hall, John (1972): A Complete Opening System for White: King’s Indian Attack, Dallas: Chess Digest Magazine, no ISBN
* Weinstein, Norman (1976): The King’s Indian Attack, Dallas: Chess Digest Magazine, no ISBN
* Schiller, Eric (1989): How To Play The Kings Indian Attack, Moon Township: Chess Enterprises, ISBN 0931462959
* Norwood, David (1991): King’s Indian Attack, London: Trends Publications, without ISBN
* Tangborn, Eric (1992): A Fischer Favorite: The King’s Indian Attack – with 46 fully annotated Games, o.O.: International Chess Enterprises, ISBN 1-879479-07-9
* Dunnington, Angus (1993): How to Play - The King’s Indian Attack - Openings, London: B.T. Batsford Ltd, ISBN 0-8050-2933-8
* Henley, Ron and Hodges, Paul (1993): Power Play - The King’s Indian Attack, Hagerstown: R&D Publishing, ISBN 1-883358-02-7
* Henley, Ron and Maddox, Don (1993): The ChessBase University BlueBook Guide To Winning With - The King’s Indian Attack, Hagerstown: R&D Publishing, ISBN 1-883358-00-0
* Hall, John and Cartier, Jan R. (1996): Modern King’s Indian Attack – A Complete System for White, Dallas Texas: Hays Publishing, ISBN 1-880673-11-8
* New In Chess Yearbook (1998): King's Indian Attack: Black castles kingside, Alkmaar: Interchess BV, Vol. 49, ISBN 90-5691-044-2, p. 186-190
* New In Chess Yearbook (1999): King's Indian Attack, Alkmaar: Interchess BV, Vol. 50, ISBN 90-5691-047-7, p.182-186
* Maddox, Don (2002): Königsindischer Angriff - Schach Training, Hamburg: ChessBase GmbH, ISBN 3-935602-51-0
* New In Chess Yearbook (2005): King's Indian Attack, Alkmaar: Interchess BV, Vol. 76, ISBN 90-5691-155-4, p. 228-232
* Dzindzichashvili, Roman (2005): Easy Way to Learn The King’s Indian Attack, Internet: ChessDVDs.com, Roman’s Lab, Volume 28, Nr. 7-37885-35839-1
* Davies, Nigel (2008): King’s Indian Attack, Hamburg: ChessBase GmbH, fritztrainer opening, ISBN 978-3-86681-071-6

External links

* [http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessopening?eco=A07 chess database]
* [http://www.exeterchessclub.org.uk/Openings/sic10.html Introduction to the King's Indian Attack]