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The King's Indian Attack with 1.Nf3

A flexible kingside fianchetto repertoire connecting central control with active plans against French, Slav and Caro-Kann structures.

Begin with 1.Nf3 and build a flexible centre around e4 and d3. Our fianchetto supports several plans: a space-gaining e5 advance, an opening of the centre with d4, or queenside play when Black prevents the usual attack. The defensive pawn structure determines which pieces need improving and where counterplay will appear. Learn the attacking patterns together with their limits, so every line ends with a practical plan for the position on the board.

SystemAttacking
chapters
10
lines
80
moves to know
552
Try the first line free

1. Main setup: keep the centre flexible

11 lines

We build the familiar fianchetto structure while keeping the centre flexible. Against an early d5 and Nf6, e5 can gain space with tempo, but the advance works best when the supporting pieces are ready. This chapter connects development with the choice of central structure. Watch Black's queenside activity and pawn breaks, then decide whether a kingside buildup or a central exchange offers the more useful plan.

  1. Line 11.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.O-O Bf5 5.d3 e6 6.Nbd2 h6 7.b3 Be7 8.Bb2 O-O 9.Qe1 Bh7 10.e4 a5 11.a4 Na6 12.Qe2 Nb4 13.Ne1 Nd7 14.f4FreeLearn
  2. Line 2… 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Be7 5.d3 a5 6.Nbd2 a4 7.a3 c5 8.e4 Nc6 9.Re1 h6 10.Qe2 O-O 11.e5 Nh7 12.Nf1 Ng5 13.c3 Nxf3+ 14.Qxf3 Bg5 15.Bxg5 Qxg5 16.Qe2 b5 17.f4 Qe7 18.Qf2Premium
  3. Line 3… 5.d3 b6 6.Nbd2 Bb7 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 O-O 9.Qe2 Nc6 10.Rd1 Qc8 11.b3 a5 12.Bb2 a4 13.a3 axb3 14.cxb3Premium
  4. Line 4… 8.dxe4 Nxe4 9.Ne5 Nd6 10.Bxb7 Nxb7 11.Qf3Premium
  5. Line 5… 9.Ne5 f5 10.Qh5+Premium
  6. Line 6… 5.d3 Nc6 6.b3 e5 7.Bb2 e4 8.dxe4 dxe4 9.Qxd8+ Bxd8 10.Nfd2Premium
  7. Line 7… 7.Bb2 d4 8.c3Premium
  8. Line 8… 5.d3 c5 6.Nbd2 Nc6 7.e4 Qc7 8.Re1 b6 9.Qe2 Bb7 10.c3 h6 11.Nf1 O-O-O 12.Bf4 Qd7 13.b4 g5 14.Ne5 Qe8 15.Nxc6 Qxc6 16.Be5 dxe4 17.dxe4 Rhg8 18.a4Premium
  9. Line 9… 7.e4 e5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.c3 Bg4 10.Qa4 Qd7 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Qxd7+ Bxd7 13.Bxd5Premium
  10. Line 10… 9.c3 O-O 10.Re1 f6 11.d4 cxd4 12.cxd4 exd4 13.Nb3Premium
  11. Line 11… 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 e5 9.c3 O-O 10.Qe2 Qc7 11.Nc4 Be6 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.a4 Rad8 15.Ne3 g6 16.Nd2 Bg7 17.Rfd1Premium

2. Early queen moves: time the central break

5 lines

An early queen move changes the tactical details of our central advance. The queen may support a pawn break, create a pin, or become a target for development with tempo. We keep the same compact setup but calculate the available exchanges before committing to e5. The aim is to gain useful activity while staying aware of the queen's threats against the centre and our king.

  1. Line 11.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Be7 5.d3 c5 6.Nbd2 Nc6 7.e4 O-O 8.Re1 Qc7 9.Nf1 dxe4 10.dxe4 Rd8 11.Qe2 b6 12.c3 a5 13.e5 Ba6 14.exf6 Bxe2 15.fxe7 Rd1 16.Rxe2 Nxe7 17.Nd2 Rd8 18.Be4Premium
  2. Line 2… 13.e5 Nd5 14.Qe4Premium
  3. Line 3… 11.Qe2 Nd4 12.Nxd4 cxd4 13.e5 Nd5 14.a3Premium
  4. Line 4… 9.Nf1 b6 10.Bf4 e5 11.exd5 exf4 12.dxc6Premium
  5. Line 5… 8.Re1 b5 9.e5 Nd7 10.Nf1 a5 11.h4 a4 12.a3 b4 13.axb4 cxb4 14.d4Premium

3. Kingside space: bring the pieces forward

9 lines

Kingside space becomes useful when the pieces can occupy the squares behind the advancing pawns. These lines bring knights, bishops and queen toward Black's king while the centre limits some defensive movement. Our attack must still respect queenside counterplay and central breaks. Follow the routes of the pieces, count exchanges carefully, and distinguish a practical initiative from a position that already offers a forced tactical result.

  1. Line 11.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Be7 5.d3 c5 6.Nbd2 Nc6 7.e4 Qc7 8.Re1 b6 9.Qe2 Bb7 10.c3 h6 11.Nf1 d4 12.e5 Nd7 13.h4 O-O-O 14.N1h2 Kb8 15.a3 g5 16.h5Premium
  2. Line 2… 7.e4 O-O 8.Re1 b5 9.e5 Nd7 10.Nf1 a5 11.h4 a4 12.a3 Bb7 13.h5 h6 14.Bf4 Qb6 15.Qd2 Rfc8 16.g4Premium
  3. Line 3… 11.h4 Re8 12.N1h2 Nf8 13.Ng5 h6 14.Nh3 a4 15.a3 b4 16.Ng4Premium
  4. Line 4… 12.N1h2 Bf8 13.Bf4 b4 14.h5 h6 15.Ng4 Ba6 16.Qd2 a4 17.Bxh6 gxh6 18.Nxh6+ Bxh6 19.Qxh6 Nf8 20.Ng5 Nd4 21.g4 Nxc2 22.Be4 f5 23.exf6Premium
  5. Line 5… 16.Qd2 Kh7 17.c4 bxc3 18.bxc3 Rb8 19.c4 Nb6 20.Nfh2 Qc7 21.Nxh6 gxh6 22.Ng4Premium
  6. Line 6… 16.Qd2 Qe7 17.Ngh2 Qd8 18.Kh1Premium
  7. Line 7… 11.h4 f6 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Ng5 e5 14.c4 Nd4 15.Ne3Premium
  8. Line 8… 14.c4 Bg4 15.Bxd5+Premium
  9. Line 9… 11.h4 b4 12.Bf4 a4 13.a3 bxa3 14.bxa3 Ba6 15.N1h2 c4 16.d4 c3 17.h5 h6 18.Qc1 Rb8 19.g4 Nb6 20.Kh1 Nc4 21.Bh3Premium

4. Advanced attacks: calculate before sacrificing

3 lines

These variations examine material investments that open lines near Black's king. A sacrificed knight or pawn needs concrete compensation from checks, active pieces and restricted defensive squares. We calculate the resulting material balance instead of relying on a familiar attacking picture. When Black defends accurately, preserving coordination and recognizing the limits of the attack are just as important as spotting the initial opportunity.

  1. Line 11.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Be7 5.d3 c5 6.Nbd2 Nc6 7.e4 O-O 8.Re1 b5 9.e5 Nd7 10.Nf1 a5 11.h4 b4 12.Bf4 a4 13.a3 bxa3 14.bxa3 Ba6 15.N1h2 Nd4 16.Nxd4 cxd4 17.Qg4 Kh8 18.Bg5 Bxg5 19.hxg5Premium
  2. Line 2… 15.N1h2 Rb8 16.h5 Qc7 17.h6 g6 18.Ng5Premium
  3. Line 3… 16.h5 h6 17.Ng4 Nd4 18.Nxd4 cxd4 19.Nh2 Qc7 20.Ra2 Rb6 21.Qg4 Kh7 22.Nf3Premium

5. Slav setup: challenge the bishop barrier

5 lines

Black's Slav-style setup develops the light-squared bishop outside the pawn chain and makes a routine kingside attack less automatic. We challenge that arrangement through central space, timely exchanges and useful knight routes. The bishop's location determines whether a pawn advance gains time or merely weakens our own cover. Build the position patiently, then choose a break that improves the pieces and keeps Black's counterplay manageable.

  1. Line 11.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.O-O Bf5 5.d3 e6 6.Nbd2 h6 7.b3 Be7 8.Bb2 Nbd7 9.e4 Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.e5 Nh7 12.Qe1Premium
  2. Line 2… 8.Bb2 O-O 9.Qe1 Bh7 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 Nbd7 12.Qe2 Qc7 13.Rfd1 Rfd8 14.Ne1 Nc5 15.Nd3 Nxd3 16.cxd3Premium
  3. Line 3… 11.dxe4 Na6 12.Qe2 Nc5 13.Ne5 Qc7 14.Kh1 Rad8 15.f4Premium
  4. Line 4… 10.e4 Nbd7 11.Qe2 a5 12.a4 Qb6 13.e5 Ne8 14.Bh3 Nc7 15.Kh1 Rae8 16.Nh4 f6 17.exf6 Bxf6 18.Bxf6 Rxf6 19.f4 Qc5 20.Ndf3Premium
  5. Line 5… 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Bf5 4.O-O e6 5.d3Premium

6. Early bishop sorties: gain time with the centre

6 lines

An early bishop sortie gives us a target, but chasing it must serve the position. These lines use pawn advances and central development to gain time against the bishop while checking the tactical relationship between our queen and knights. We should know where the king will be safe before loosening the pawn cover. When the bishop retreats, use the gained space to complete coordination rather than continue advancing automatically.

  1. Line 11.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.Bg2 Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.exf3 e5 6.O-O Bd6 7.d4 Ne7 8.dxe5 Bxe5 9.f4 Bf6 10.c4 dxc4 11.Nd2Premium
  2. Line 2… 5.exf3 Nd7 6.O-O e6 7.d3 Ngf6 8.f4 Bd6 9.Nd2 O-O 10.Nf3 e5 11.fxe5 Nxe5 12.Re1 Re8 13.Be3Premium
  3. Line 3… 10.Nf3 a5 11.a4 Qc7 12.Re1 Rfe8 13.Be3 Re7 14.c3Premium
  4. Line 4… 4.h3 Bh5 5.d3 Nd7 6.O-O e6 7.e4 Bd6 8.exd5 cxd5 9.c4 Ne7 10.Nc3 O-O 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 exd5 13.Qb3 Nb6 14.a4 a5 15.Be3Premium
  5. Line 5… 11.cxd5 exd5 12.g4 Bg6 13.Nh4Premium
  6. Line 6… 3.Bg2 g6 4.d3 Bg7 5.Nbd2Premium

7. Slav structures: build the attack patiently

4 lines

The Slav pawn structure can leave the centre stable enough for longer piece maneuvers. We organize the knights, queen and rooks around the available squares, preparing an attack only when Black's defensive arrangement permits it. Central exchanges may instead produce an isolated pawn or a more open game. Recognize those changes early, support our own weaknesses, and use active pieces to make the structure work.

  1. Line 11.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.Bg2 Bg4 4.h3 Bh5 5.d3 Nd7 6.O-O Ngf6 7.Qe1 e6 8.Nfd2 Be7 9.f4 O-O 10.e4 h6 11.g4 Bg6 12.Nc3 Bh7 13.e5 Ne8 14.Nf3Premium
  2. Line 2… 8.Nfd2 e5 9.e4 dxe4 10.dxe4 Be7 11.a4 O-O 12.Nc4 Qc7 13.f4 exf4 14.gxf4 Nb6 15.Ne3Premium
  3. Line 3… 10.dxe4 Bc5 11.Nb3 Bb6 12.a4 a5 13.N1d2 O-O 14.Nc4 Bc7 15.Bd2Premium
  4. Line 4… 7.Qe1 e5 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 Bc5 10.a4 O-O 11.Nbd2 Re8 12.Nb3 Bf8 13.Nh4 Qc7 14.Be3Premium

8. French structure: meet the active bishop

4 lines

Black's active bishop changes the usual French-style attacking picture. We retain the compact setup but keep d4 available, using a central challenge when closing with e5 would give the opponent an easy defense. Some exchanges leave an isolated d-pawn, making piece activity and the timing of simplification important. Coordinate the rooks and minor pieces before deciding whether the kingside or the centre offers our clearest play.

  1. Line 11.Nf3 e6 2.e4 d5 3.d3 c5 4.Nbd2 Nc6 5.g3 Bd6 6.Bg2 Nge7 7.O-O O-O 8.Re1 Bc7 9.c3 b6 10.d4 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.cxd4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nd5 14.Qc2 Bb7 15.Ng5 g6 16.Ne4Premium
  2. Line 2… 14.Qc2 h6 15.Nc3 Bb7 16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Bxd5 exd5 18.Qf5Premium
  3. Line 3… 8.Re1 e5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nc4 f6 11.d4 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.Bxd5+ Kh8 14.c3Premium
  4. Line 4… 8.Re1 Qc7 9.c3 d4 10.Nc4 e5 11.cxd4 cxd4 12.Bd2 f6 13.Nh4 Be6 14.Rc1 Qd7 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.a3 a5 17.f4 a4 18.Rf1Premium

9. Fianchetto structures: choose the pawn break

20 lines

Black meets our fianchetto with its own, creating a contest over the long diagonal and the central breaks. The knight's square matters: e5 gains time against Nf6, while a knight on e7 calls for different preparation. These lines include both quiet maneuvers and concrete sacrifices. Follow the pawn exchanges carefully, assess the resulting material honestly, and use the centre to support whichever flank offers useful targets.

  1. Line 11.Nf3 e6 2.e4 d5 3.d3 c5 4.Nbd2 Nc6 5.g3 g6 6.Bg2 Bg7 7.O-O Nge7 8.Re1 O-O 9.c3 b6 10.e5 Qc7 11.Qe2 g5 12.Nxg5 Qxe5 13.Nde4 dxe4 14.Bf4 Qf6 15.Bxe4 e5 16.Bxh7+ Kh8 17.Qh5 Bg4 18.Qxg4 exf4 19.Be4Premium
  2. Line 2… 11.Qe2 f6 12.exf6 Bxf6 13.Nf1 e5 14.Bh6 Re8 15.Ne3 Be6 16.Ng5Premium
  3. Line 3… 9.c3 e5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nc4 Re8 12.Qb3 Nc7 13.Ng5Premium
  4. Line 4… 9.c3 Qc7 10.Qe2 e5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nc4 Re8 13.Ng5 Nf6 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.dxe4Premium
  5. Line 5… 13.Ng5 Rd8 14.Ne4 Nce7 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bxe7 Nxe7 17.Qe3Premium
  6. Line 6… 10.Qe2 a5 11.a4 b6 12.e5 g5 13.Nxg5 Qxe5 14.Nde4 dxe4 15.Bf4 Qf6 16.Bxe4 h6 17.Nh7Premium
  7. Line 7… 16.Bxe4 e5 17.Bxh7+ Kh8 18.Qh5 Bg4 19.Qxg4 exf4 20.Be4Premium
  8. Line 8… 8.Re1 b6 9.c3 Bb7 10.e5 Qc7 11.d4 cxd4 12.cxd4 Nb4 13.Qa4+ Nec6 14.Bf1Premium
  9. Line 9… 9.c3 Qc7 10.d4 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.cxd4 Bxd4 13.Qa4+ Nc6 14.exd5Premium
  10. Line 10… 10.d4 O-O 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nb3 cxd4 13.c4 Nde7 14.Bf4 Qd7 15.Nfxd4 e5 16.Nxc6 Nxc6 17.Qxd7 Bxd7 18.Bxc6 Bxc6 19.Bxe5Premium
  11. Line 11… 7.O-O Nf6 8.Re1 O-O 9.c3 e5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nc4 Re8 12.Qb3Premium
  12. Line 12… 9.c3 d4 10.e5 Nd7 11.cxd4 cxd4 12.Nc4 b5 13.Nd6Premium
  13. Line 13… 9.c3 a5 10.a4 b6 11.e5 Nd7 12.d4 cxd4 13.cxd4 f6 14.exf6 Qxf6 15.Nb3Premium
  14. Line 14… 13.cxd4 Ba6 14.Nb1Premium
  15. Line 15… 12.d4 Ba6 13.Nf1 cxd4 14.cxd4 b5 15.axb5 Bxb5 16.h4 Qb6 17.Ne3 Nb4 18.Ra3 Rfc8 19.Bf1 Bxf1 20.Rxf1 Rab8 21.Kg2Premium
  16. Line 16… 14.cxd4 f6 15.exf6 Qxf6 16.Bg5 Qf7 17.Bf4 h6 18.h4 Rac8 19.Ne3 Kh7 20.Ng4Premium
  17. Line 17… 14.cxd4 Nb4 15.Bg5 Qc7 16.Ne3 h6 17.Bf4 g5 18.Bxg5 hxg5 19.Nxg5 Bd3 20.f4 Bg6 21.Qg4Premium
  18. Line 18… 15.Bg5 Qe8 16.Qd2 Rc8 17.Rec1 Bd3 18.Rxc8 Qxc8 19.Be7Premium
  19. Line 19… 17.Rec1 Rxc1 18.Rxc1 Nb8 19.b3Premium
  20. Line 20… 8.Re1 b6 9.c3Premium

10. Caro-Kann structure: develop around d3

13 lines

The Caro-Kann structure allows Black's light-squared bishop to develop early and creates several distinct middlegames. We may chase that bishop, enter a queenless position, or keep the fianchetto and challenge Black's broad centre. The position determines the king's destination and the appropriate pawn break. Learn the purpose of each change in structure, keeping development and material balance in view before choosing an attacking plan.

  1. Line 11.Nf3 c6 2.e4 d5 3.d3 Bg4 4.h3 Bh5 5.Nc3 e6 6.g4 Bg6 7.h4 dxe4 8.h5 Bxh5 9.Ne5 Bg6 10.Nxg6 fxg6 11.Nxe4Premium
  2. Line 2… 7.h4 h5 8.Ne5 Bh7 9.g5 Bd6 10.Nxf7 Kxf7 11.Qxh5+ g6 12.Qg4Premium
  3. Line 3… 5.Nc3 d4 6.g4 dxc3 7.gxh5 cxb2 8.Bxb2 Qa5+ 9.Qd2 Qxh5 10.Be2Premium
  4. Line 4… 6.g4 Bg6 7.Ne2Premium
  5. Line 5… 5.Nc3 dxe4 6.Nxe4 Nd7 7.Qe2 Qc7 8.Bd2 Ngf6 9.Nxf6+ Nxf6 10.g4 Bg6 11.O-O-O e6 12.Ne5 Bd6 13.f4Premium
  6. Line 6… 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.g4 dxe4 7.Nh4 Bg6 8.Nxg6 hxg6 9.g5 Nd5 10.Nxe4 e6 11.h4Premium
  7. Line 7… 3.d3 dxe4 4.dxe4 Qxd1+ 5.Kxd1 Bg4 6.Nd2 g6 7.c3 Bg7 8.Kc2 Nd7 9.Ne1 Nb6 10.a4 a5 11.Nc4 Nxc4 12.Bxc4 Nf6 13.f3 Bd7 14.Nd3 b5 15.Bb3 O-O 16.Nc5 Bc8 17.Rd1Premium
  8. Line 8… 5.Kxd1 Nf6 6.Nbd2 g6 7.Ne1 Bg7 8.Nd3 O-O 9.f3Premium
  9. Line 9… 3.d3 Qc7 4.g3 dxe4 5.dxe4 e5 6.Bg2 Nf6 7.Nbd2 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.O-O Nbd7 10.Qe1 Nc5 11.Nc4 Nfd7 12.b4 Ne6 13.a4Premium
  10. Line 10… 3.d3 g6 4.Nbd2 Bg7 5.g3 e5 6.Bg2 Ne7 7.O-O O-O 8.c3 Nd7 9.b4 a5 10.a4 axb4 11.cxb4Premium
  11. Line 11… 9.b4 b6 10.Bb2 Bb7 11.Re1 Re8 12.a4 a5 13.Qc2Premium
  12. Line 12… 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O Bg4 8.Re1 e5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Nxf3 Nd7 12.h4Premium
  13. Line 13… 8.Re1 e6 9.e5 Nfd7 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Nxf3 a5 12.h4 a4 13.a3 c5 14.Bf4Premium