U.S. Junior Championship: King's Indian--Fianchetto Variation

Harper pulls off a major upset to deny Robson the U.S. Junior Championship.

King's Indian 101: Fianchetto Variation--7.b3

The usual move in the Fianchetto Variation is 7.Nc3, but here Beliavsky faces the rare 7.b3.  Black must keep a close watch against the queenside storm, as in many Fianchetto Variation games. 

King's Indian 101: Fianchetto Variation

The King's Indian Fianchetto Variation is reached by several move orders, but let's begin with the most straightforward. 

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 d6 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O

Let's agree on this as the starting position for the KI Fianchetto Variation.  The Queen's Knight hasn't been committed yet, unlike the other KI mainlines, and the light-squared Bishop is coming in on the long diagonal, instead of to the usual e2 or d3.  White is likely going to push the e-pawn two squares as in other variations, but even that's in question.   This variation usually lacks the wholesale assault by Black on the White position due to the extra protection afforded by the Bishop, and the center will tend to be more fluid than in the other mainlines (it's more difficult for Black to focus an attack on the kingside when the center is not closed). 

Now White usually plays 6.O-O, but note that because the KI is a hypermodern opening Black is not tying White down to any particular move order. Black has several moves, with the principal being 6...Nbd7.  Others include 6...Nc6, c6, c5, a6, Bg4, Na6, and Bf5. 

6...Nbd7  The Knight is not ideally placed here, of course, but it's going to support Black's play into the center at e5.  In response, White has the major move 7.Nc3, the often-played 7.Qc2, and the minor moves 7.b3 (see G124) and 7.d5.  We'll look at Nc3 in the main, consider Qc2, and handle the other two moves in subsequent games. 

I.  7.Nc3 and now 7...e5 (diagram) is the best by theory.  Black's equalization in this position is still in the future, but he has no weaknesses.  White has the better grip on the center, and the Black Knight at d7, however necessary, is going to have to move again soon.

8.e4 White also plays 8.h3 here, but it has little independent significance.  Black now plays 8...c6 almost half the time and 8...exd4 a little over a quarter of the time.  The other two common moves are 8...Re8 and 8...a6.  After 8...c6, play may continue 9.h3 Qb6 10.Re1 exd4 11.Nxd4 Ne8 and Black is okay.  Continuing, 8.e4 c6 9.h3 (9.b3 Re8 10.h3 exd4) 9...Qb6 10.Re1 (diagram) 

10...exd4 11.Nxd4 Ne8 (11...Re8 12.Nc2 Nc5 =) 12.Nb3 a5 13.Be3 Qb4 14.a3 and White is slightly better (diagram) due to a space advantage and better coordinated pieces. 


II.  7.Qc2 e5 (the alternative is 7...c6 and it may be objectively as good 8.Rd1 Qc7 9.Nc3 e5 with a slight advantage to White) 8.Rd1 Re8 (8...Qe7 Nc3 9.c6 e4 10.exd4=) 9.Nc3 c6 10.e4 (10.b3 and now while 10...e4 has been the move of choice, this position deserves closer attention) 10...exd4 (10...Qe7 and look particularly at 11.b3 or d5) 11.Nxd4 (diagram) and Black is okay. 

Now a couple of games.

King's Indian 101: Fianchetto Variation

The Fianchetto Variation of the King's Indian is a popular way to avoid the mainlines of the opening in which Black will conduct an all-out assault on the kingside.  There are many ways to arrive in the Fianchetto Variation, including as in the below game.

King's Indian 101: Classical Variation--9.Nd2

This King's Indian comes from the 17th Correspondence World Championship.  White scores with the third of the big three White responses to the Mar Del Plata Variation of the King's Indian: 9.Nd2.  The move may only be inferior to 9.Ne1 and 9.b4 in terms of the times it has been played.  Play is often across the entire board as in this game, and here, Black simply wasn't able to hit hard enough on the kingside.  The novelty in the game is at White's 20th. 

King's Tournament: King's Indian Classical with 7...Na6

The last round of the King's Tournament in Medias saw all three games end with a Black victory.  In the game Gelfand-Radjabov, Radjabov played 6...Na6 in the Classical Variation, a move he's only played once previously.  The notion behind this move is usually to avoid the body of theory after 6...e5 and 7...Nc6.  Radjabov likely knows this theory better than anyone, having played into the line more than 70 times, but even Radjabov is not above side-stepping an opponent's preparation.  Oftentimes 6...Na6 simply transposes to the more mainstream move order 6...e5 7.O-O Na6, and that's what happens here.  The verdict is out on 7...Na6 (which is this game by transposition), but the general thought is that White has additional options due to a lack of pressure on the White center.  Here, the novelty is 12...d3 and it would seem that White has won the opening phase, but it's never quite so simple....

ICCF World Championship, 19th Finals: Sämisch KI

In this game, Whte accepts Blacks offer of a pawn (see 7.dxc5) and is ultimately punished for it.  White's 14th, however, is less than accurate. 

King's Indian: A Sämisch at the 2007 CC World Championship

Black doesn't win so often at the highest levels of CC.  The KI scores one here in the Sämisch Variation, again with White playing 7.Nge2.

King's Indian 101: Introduction Part IV--Sämisch Variation

Click here for Part I: Overview

Click here for Part II: Classical
Click here for Part III: Four Pawns Attack
Click here for Part V: Averbakh System

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3  introduces the Sämisch Variation.  White fortifies e4 and employs a flexible system, including that the King can be tucked away to either side of the board.  Should Black play an early c5, the opening will often look more like a Benoni than a KI.  The main choice by Black now is 5...O-O; Black may also play 5...c6, 5...Nbd7, 5...e5, 5...Nc6, and 5...a6.  In response to 5...O-O, White has a major move, 6.Be3, and two minor choices, 6.Bg5 and 6.Nge2 (see G111).  After 6.Be3, Black has no less than seven moves that have been played more than 1,000 times in Mega 2010.  Kasparov has played five of them.  For purposes of this introduction, let's reduce the numbers by looking at 2600+ players, with the winning percentage, as always, from White's persepective:

6...e5  22 Games  47.7%
6...c5 20 Games  45%
6...Nc6 7 Games  57.1%
6...Nd7 5 Games  70%
6...c6  3 Games  83.3%
6...a6  3 Games  83.3%
6...b6  1 Game  50%

So, it's 61 games, with more than two-thirds of those games involving one of two moves: 6...e5 or 6...c5, with those two moves showing a plus on the Black side.  Unless there be any mistake, the players of the White pieces in all of the above games were also above 2600.  The thrust of this intro is to identify some of the major lines of play, and, as always, the details of the opening will be drawn out through games. 

A.  6...e5 and now White has 7. d5 and 7.Nge2, with mainline play as follows:

 1.  7.d5 c6 8.Qd2 cxd5 9.cxd5 Nbd7     
       
 2.  7.Nge2 c6 8. Qd2 Nbd7 9.O-O-O a6 (see G113)

B.  6...c5 and now White has 7.Nge2, 7.dxc5, 7.d5

1.  7.Nge2 (keeps the tension) Nc6 8.d5 (8.Qd2) Ne5 9.Ng3 e6

2.  7.dxc5 dxc5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Bxc5 Nc6 and Black's compensation is indicated by that in over 700 games, White has a mere 47% win rate despite the extra pawn.  (See G114)

3.  7.d5 e6 8.Qd2 exd5 9.cxd5 a6

C.  6...Nc6 (Panno Variation) 7.Nge2 (7.d5?! Ne5!) a6 8.Qd2 Rb8

Pat He Comes, Like the Catastrophe of the Old Comedy: Carlsen Victorious in Sämisch

Just as I was winding up a brief introduction to the Sämisch Variation, I checked in on TWIC to find that Carlsen played against it today versus Ponomariov.  I'll yield to the World's No. 1 for a day.  Here's the game.  Note Ponomariov's 6.Nge2 and compare it to 6.Be3 lines. 

King's Indian 101: Introduction Part V--Averbakh System

Click here for Part I: Overview
Click here for Part II: Classical
Click here for Part III: Four Pawns Attack
Click here for Part IV: SämischVariation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Bg5

The Averbakh presents a small exception to the notion that it's White's fifth move that determines the line of th KI being played.  White usually plays 5.Be2, and that raises the Averbakh alert.  After 5...O-O, White, however, can transpose back to the Classical with 6.Nf3 or follow through with the Averbakh by 6.Bg5. (Diagram below.)

After 6.Bg5, Black is constrained from pushing 6...e5 because of the resulting pin on the Knight.  7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Nd5 Nbd7 10.Rd1.  Black's usual move here is 6...c5, but 6...Na6, 6...h6, and 6...e6 are played with some frequency.  6...Na6 deserves a separate post.  7.d5  (7.dxc5 Qa5 (7...dxc5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.e5 Nfd7 10.e6 Nf6 11.exf7+ Kxf7) 8.Bd2 Qxc5 9.Nf3 Bg4) 7...h6 8.Bf4 (Diagram left.)  Now the most popular move is to go straight for the center-buster 8...e6, but 8...a6 deserves attention, too.  Now the position gets complex fast, and Black does need to sort out these complexities at home.  9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.Bxd6 (Diagram below right.)

The usual move now is overwhelmingly 10...Re8. And one question arising is whether the move no one plays, 11.Bxc5, is playable? 11...Qa5 12.b4 Qa6 and the position appears tenable.  Black is down two pawns, but has significant compensation.  More work is required.  After 10...Re8, the usual play goes  11.Nf3 Nc6 12.O-O Nd4 13.e5 Nd7 14.Nxd4 cxd4 15.Qxd4 Nxe5 16.Bxe5 Qxd4 17.Bxd4 Bxd4, where Black has almost enough compensation for the pawn. (Diagram below left.)

While this certainly an incomplete discussion of the Averbakh, we'll fill in the discussion with forthcoming games.  One thing that stands out in even a preliminary investigation of the this line is that there is tremendous potential for original analysis and computer research. 

King's Indian 101: Introduction Part III--The Four Pawns Attack

For Introduction Part II, click here: Classical.

For Introduction Part I, click here: Overview.

White's fifth move of 5.f4 marks the Four Pawns Attack.  White intends to overwhelm the Black position.  The downside is that White's center is potentially overextended if Black is quick enough to take advantage.  In addition to the vulnerable pawns, White is slightly behind in development.  Black should aim, if the opportunity presents itself, to open the position without delay.  The game typically continues 5...O-O 6.Nf3.  In addition, to 6.Nf3, Black has tried 6.Be2, 6.Bd3, and 6.e5?!.  More on these in future posts.  Back to Nf3, there are two serious moves considered by Black in this position.  The first is the mainline: A.  6...c5.  The second is the more modern B. 6...Na6 (which I haven't made peace with yet). 

A.  6...c5

7.d5 is the common move, closing the position temporarily (diagram right).  7...e6 (7...b5?! 8.cxb5 a6 9.a4! (9.bxa6?! Qa5 10.Bd2 Bxa6 =) 9...axb5 10.Bxb5 Ba6 11.Bd2 Bxb5) 8.Be2 (8.dxe6 fxe6  9. Bd3 Nc6=) 8...exd5, and now both 9.exd5 and 9.cxd5 are possible, with 9.cxd5 being much more common. Black now has two decent possibilities in 9...Re8 and 9...Bg4 (diagram below), both of which will be the subject of future posts.

B. 6...Na6 (diagram below left)

7. Be2 e5 8.dxe5 (8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Nxe5 c5 =) 8...dxe5 9.Nxe5 Nc6 =

7.Bd3 the current fashion 7...e5 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.d5 c6 10.O-O Nc5 (Black must consider 10...Qd6) (diagram below right)

or perhaps better 7...Bg4!? 8.O-O Nd7 9.Be3 e5 and Black has not yet equalized in either of the 7.Bd3 lines

7.e5?! Nd7! 8.Be2 c5 9.exd6 exd6

King's Indian: Some Preliminary Statistics

King's Indian Statistics

The following statistics were pulled from small subsets of the ChessBase Mega 2010 and Corr 2009 databases.  These statistics will be refined by specific variations and moves as the research into the KI goes forward. 

The two sets of statistics can generally be described as:
Mega 2010:  World class players doing state of the art research in advance of the game.
Corr 2009:  Skilled players using good software and hardware for every move.

Conclusions to be drawn are limited from the below numbers, but here's what I think can be made of them:

• White does slightly better than average against the King's Indian. 
• The Classical Variation scores solidly OTB, but only averagely in CC.
• The SämischVariation scores above average in both OTB and CC, but the CC sample is small.
• The Four Pawns Attack is held in low regard at top levels and the statistics support that. 

Mega 2010 Database: 2007-2010 Both Players >2575

Overall  55.6% (315 gms)

1. 5.Nf3 58.% (175 gms)
2. 5.Be2 48.8% (42 gms)
3. 5.f3 59.5% (37 gms)
4. 5.Bd3 58.7% (23 gms)
5. 5.h3 42.5% (20 gms)
6. 5.f4 37.5% (8 gms)
7. 5.Bg5 83.3% (6 gms)
8. 5.Nge2 50% (4 gms) 

Correspondence 2009 Database: 2006-2010 Both Players > 2450

Overall 57.9% (74 gms)

1. 5.Nf3 53.3% (46 gms)
2. 5.Be2 66.7% (9 gms)
3. 5.f3 70% (10 gms)
4. 5.Bd3 75% (2 gms)
5. 5.h3 66.7% (3 gms)
6. 5.f4 50% (3 gms)
7. 5.Bg5 --   (-- gms)
8. 5.Nge2 100% (1 gm)

King's Indian 101: A Partial Bibliography

Understanding the King's Indian by Mikhail Golubev (Paperback - Nov. 14, 2005)

King's Indian: A Complete Black Repertoire by Victor Bologan (Paperback - July 14, 2009)

Fighting the Anti-King's Indians: How to Handle White's tricky ways of avoiding the main lines (Everyman Chess) by Yelena Dembo (Paperback - Sept. 16, 2008)

Dangerous Weapons: The King's Indian: Dazzle Your Opponents! (Everyman Chess) by Richard Palliser, Glen Flear, and Yelena Dembo (Paperback - May 5, 2009)

The King's Indian Defense Chess Opening DVD by Viktor Bologan by ChessBase (DVD-ROM) - Windows Vista / XP

Beating the King's Indian and Grunfeld - Taylor

The Classical King's Indian Uncovered by Krzysztof Panczyk and Jacek Ilczuk (Paperback - Aug. 25, 2009)

Beat the Kid: Three Lines Against the King's Indian by Jan Markos (Paperback - Mar. 1, 2009)

Starting Out: King's Indian (Starting Out - Everyman Chess) by Joe Gallagher (Paperback - June 1, 2002)

Bronstein On the King's Indian by David Bronstein (Paperback - Aug. 1, 1999)
 
The Samisch King's Indian Uncovered (Everyman Chess) by Alexander Cherniaev (Paperback - Feb. 12, 2008)

King's Indian 101: Introduction Part II--The Classical Variation

Click here for Introduction Part I

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3

You'll recall that it's White's fifth move that will largely define the variation of the KI that will be played.  The Classical is marked by 5.Nf3.  This forecloses the other major KI variations.  The Knight at f3 blocks the f-pawn, which is required to be pushed in both the Four Pawns (5.f4) and Saemisch variations (5.f3), and the Averbakh (5.Bg5) is foreclosed more indirectly, as Nf3 doesn't usually appear in the early moves of the Averbakh.mainlines.  In the Classical, the Knight develops to f3 naturally and supports the d4 and e5 squares.  The notion here is to review in a straightforward way the gist of the play, which you can add to with your own research, whether as White or Black.  Separate posts will be dedicated to the major sublines of the Classical, including the Mar del Plata, Petrosian, Old Mainline, Na6, Gligorich System, and Exchange.

After 5.Nf3, Black invariably plays 5...O-O.  Note that Black can't play e5 yet, as his game's a mess after 5...e5 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8 8.Nxe5 Nxe4 9.Nxe4 Bxe5 10.Bg5+ Ke8 11.Nf6+ Bxf6 12.Bxf6 Rg8 13.0–0–0. After 5...O-O, the major White response is 6.Be2, with 6.h3 serving as a fashionable minor alternative.  Following 6.h3, Black continues 6...e5 (6...c5 is a minor response) 7.d5 (7.dxe5 is sometimes played with dxe5 following and now White has 8.Qxd8, 8.Be3, or 8.Bg5) and now 7...Na6!? (7...a5) with play potentially continuing 8.Bg5 h6 9.Be3 Nc5 (White will be slow to exchange the dark-squared Bishop for this Knight).  Now back to the mainline.  After 6.Be2, Black usually replies 6...e5, but Black obviously has other options, including 6...Na6 (see G116) and White has the major response of 7.O-O and minor responses of 7.Be3 (Gligorich System), 7.d5 (Petrosian System), and 7.dxe5 (Exchange Variation).  Black next plays 7...Nc6 to reach the diagrammed position (right diagram). If Black plays 7...Nbd7, then it's the Old Mainline.  If Black rather plays 7...exd4, then it's sometimes called the Glek Variation.  After 7...Nc6, Black should anticipate 8.d5 Ne7 (often referred to as the Mar del Plata Variation), and now White has three often played moves, which will be the subject of separate posts: 9.b4 (the Bayonet), 9.Ne1, and 9.Nd2 (see Game 39 here, and Game 117 here) (diagram below).

King's Indian 101: Saemisch Variation--6.Nge2

There's no better player to study than Radjabov when it comes to the King's Indian.  First, he's played the KI 122 times in Mega 2010, which is an enormous number.  Second, he's scored well enough with the opening that it's a feat of courage to even roll out the moves d4, c4, Nc3 against him.  Prior to yesterday, he had a winning percentage in every variation of the KI except the Sämisch.  Today he has a winning record in that variation, too.  The first move to consider is Ponomariov's 6.Nge2.  This is a distinct second-line move, as 6.Be3 is far more often played. 

King's Indian 101: Introduction Part I

The King's Indian (KI) comes in and out of fashion at the Super GM level, but throughout history it's mainly been in.  Like the Najdorf, both Fischer and Kasparov championed its cause, and it was widely played during their eras.  More recently it has required some revival, and for that Radjabov gets much of the credit.  At the amateur level, it is safe to assume that the opening is always viable.  The basic starting position is typically reached from the first diagram, but if you've looked more than casually at the defenses to 1.d4, you know that this isn't quite the starting point of the KI.  Another major opening springs from this position: the Gruenfeld, which is marked by 3...d5.  The two openings are distinctly different and it's the rare player who can switch from one to the other without a wholesale change in repertoire. (Kasparov is an exception.)  The reason to play either opening, however, is largely the same.  1...Nf6 unbalances the position quickly, and results in increased opportunities for Black to play for the win.  In general 1...d5-based systems are more solid than those beginning with 1...Nf6, but the price is fewer wins with the black pieces.  In several of these KI variations, for example, Black is going to put everything into a kingside attack, and that's one of the reasons the KI is, and has remained, popular. 

The KI typically begins 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 (top diagram)

First, it's important to note that the KI is at its core more a system than a concrete opening.  Theory in the opening, however, has advanced with such breadth and depth that the KI will still feel like a complex opening that has to be learned in detail compared to some other system-based openings, such as the London System.  White has a variety of ways to respond to Black's opening moves, largely because Black doesn't challenge White's control of the center for several moves and thus does nothing forcing.  This results in White having much lattitude.  In addition to 3.Nc3, White will also often play 3.Nf3 or 3.g3.  We'll return to these two moves later in "sidelines" and Fianchetto Variation posts.  After 3.Nc3, Black responds with 3...Bg7, again doing nothing to force White's reply.  And now we have the KI on the board. 

White will usually respond in one of three ways.  First and foremost, While will occupy the center with 4.e4.  This opportunity to establish the e-, d-, and c-pawns in this unchallenged way (see diagram at left) is rare and will usually be seized by White.  The major alternatives are 4.Nf3 and 4.g3.  More later on these.  After 4.e4, Black responds 4...d6.  The d-pawn most importantly secures and supports the e5 and c5 squares, as well as makes luft for the Knights and light-squared Bishop.  (One of the features that makes the KI a "system," is that it's unclear where Black's best break will come--e5 or c5?)  Black can and sometimes does castle first, but note that after 4....O-O, White has the option of playing 5.e5.  While White has better moves available than e5, this specific move order invites a complexity that Black had better be prepared to handle.  Back to 4.d6, note that White has a large space advantage (don't set out with the KI if that's bothersome), and a superb center.  The price is a slight lag in development and a weak d4 square (a square that can no longer be supported by pawns). 

And we've arrived at the point where White's next move will characterize and distinguish the mainlines of the KI.  Note that it is White who's going to largely decide which of these major lines shape the rest of the game.  This isn't surprising.  Because of the hypermodern nature of the KI, Black has done little to constrain White's choices, and White has four substantial options at the fifth move. 

(In addition to sidelines, we'll look at a fifth mainline in the KI --the Fianchetto Variation--in a separate post, which largely arises out of 3.Nf3 rather than 3.Nc3.) 

We'll briefly introduce each of the four mainlines and then explain them separately in future posts (click on the bolded title to be taken to a slightly more in-depth overview):

1.  The Classical KI:  1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 * 

As you might expect, there are many lines that will play out from the "Classical KI," including the Petrosian System, the Mar del Plata Variation, and the Exchange Variation.

2.  The Four Pawns Attack: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4 0-0 6.Nf3

This is an ultra-aggressive approach that has largely been de-fanged at the upper echelons, but which is popular at the amateur level.  How could it not be? 

3.  The Sämisch Variation:    1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 *

Also aggressive, and the subject of a Super GM game as recently as yesterday, which will be included in the next post.  See Ponomariov v. Radjabov in the King's Tournament in Medias, Romania, 6/17/10. 

4.  The Averbakh Variation: 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 *

And note the consequences of Black playing 6...e5 at this point in time, beginning with 7.dxe5.  Take a look now, as Black has to constantly be alert to combinations in the middle of the board....  7...dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Nd5, and Black has nothing better than to give up the exchange with Nxd5.  The Averbakh Variation thus prevents e5 for a time.

So, the "mental structure" is in place for assimilating the KI.  To summarize, we'll begin with

(a) the four major variations flowing out of 3.Nc3 d6 4.e4,

          (1)  Classical,

          (2)  Four Pawns,

          (3)  Sämisch, and

          (4)  Averbakh, then

(b) the major line of the Fianchetto Variation, followed by

(c) the "sidelines," which I'll divide into

          (1) major and

          (2) minor sidelines.

World Team Championship: US Defeats Israel

The US defeated Israel today 2.5 - 1.5 behind Nakamura and Onischuk. Nakamura mixed it up with Gelfand in a wild variation of the King's Indian, and it was the World Cup champ who lost his way.