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King's Indian Attack
Nf3 d5 g3 Nf6 Bg2 e6 O-O Be7 d3 O-O Nbd2 c5 e4 Nc6 Re1 b5White mirrors the King's Indian Defense setup as White — a system-based approach that works against nearly every Black response and is famous for attacking play on the kingside.
Theory 38
Games 209K
Family 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3
Opening Profile
Sharpness60
Solidity65
Counterplay52
BeginnerEasy to learn — one set of development moves works against almost everything.
ClubDeadly in club games where opponents don't know the defensive setups.
AdvancedUsed by Fischer, Karpov, and Nakamura — high ceiling with a short learning floor.
White mirrors the King's Indian Defense setup as White — a system-based approach that works against nearly every Black response and is famous for attacking play on the kingside.
Variations
White's Plans
Complete the KIA structure — Nf3, g3, Bg2, O-O, d3, Nbd2 — then play e4 to challenge the center.
After e4, advance with e5 to restrict Black's kingside pieces and launch a direct attack.
Use the Ng5-h4-f5 knight maneuver and the g4-g5 push as the standard attacking plan against ...e6 setups.
Black's Plans
Establish ...d5 or ...e5 in the center to slow White's e4-e5 advance.
Queenside counterplay with ...c5, ...b5, and ...a5 is Black's best way to balance the kingside pressure.
In French-structure positions (...e6, ...d5), use ...c5 immediately to challenge d3 and c4 ideas.
Win Rate Across All Games
61.8% White5.4% Draw32.8% Black
209K
Games
38
Theory Depth
4
Main Line Ply
Typical Structures
White: e4 vs Black e6-d5 (French-type) — e5 advance is the standard plan
White: d3 vs Black d6 (Sicilian-type) — queenside play balances kingside attack
Fixed center structures after e4-e5 — knight maneuvers become central
Key Motifs
e5-pawn advance to lock in Black's kingside knight
h4-h5 and g4-g5 kingside storm
Ng5-h4-f5 knight redeployment
Balanced middlegames where transpositions and move-order nuance matter more than memorized traps.
Key Lines
KIA vs French SetupMost natural KIA — White attacks while Black builds a French-style pawn center.
Nf3 e6 g3 d5 Bg2 Nf6 O-O Be7 d3 c5 Nbd2 Nc6KIA vs Sicilian SetupWhite uses the KIA structure against the Sicilian for a closed middlegame.
e4 c5 Nf3 e6 d3 Nc6 g3 g6 Bg2 Bg7 O-O Nge7KIA SymmetricalBoth sides mirror each other — White must find a break to create imbalance.
Nf3 Nf6 g3 g6 Bg2 Bg7 O-O O-O d3 d6What Usually Goes Wrong
If White plays e4-e5 too early without preparation, it can be premature and give Black a strong ...d4 counter.
Black's queenside activity with ...b4-b3 can be very fast — don't neglect the queenside while attacking.
Against Sicilian setups with ...c5, ...e6, the KIA is less direct than 1.e4 lines — requires patience.
Move Order & Transpositions
This named entry appears early, so many practical games continue by transposition after the listed move order.
How to Prepare
Memorize the standard development: Nf3, g3, Bg2, O-O, d3, Nbd2, then e4.
Study the e4-e5 plan and when it's effective versus premature.
Learn Black's queenside ...b5-b4 counter and how to handle it.
It stops fitting if you want White to force the game immediately instead of building the edge step by step.
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