Pushing e4 before the pieces are ready
e4 needs d3, Nbd2 and castling behind it, or Black wins the pawn or opens the centre on good terms.
Opening guide · White system
How to play the King’s Indian Attack
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3
The King’s Indian Attack is a setup more than a line: Nf3, g3, Bg2, castling, d3 and Nbd2. Then e4 and e5 build a kingside attack, whatever Black played.
- Lines to play
- 5
- Quiz positions
- 6
Learn the King’s Indian Attack move by move
You play White. Each move is explained before you play it, with an arrow on the board; then you play the line from memory. When the course has more than one good move, every one of them counts.
Key ideas
Same setup every game
- Nf3, g3, Bg2, O-O, d3 and Nbd2 work against almost every Black setup, so there is little to memorise.
e4, then e5
- Once the pieces are out, e4 and e5 gain space on the kingside and push Black’s knight from f6.
Attack on the kingside
- With a pawn on e5, White brings the knight to f1–h2 or g5, and pushes h4 against a castled king.
Watch Black’s queenside play
- Black often answers with ...c5, ...b5 and ...b4. White has to be quick on the other wing.
The main lines
Main setup against ...d5 and ...e6
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Be7 5.d3 c5 6.Nbd2 Nc6
White completes the setup; Black builds a queenside pawn chain.
Against the Slav setup
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.O-O Bf5 5.d3 e6 6.Nbd2 h6
Black’s bishop comes to f5; Nbd2 prepares e4 to hit it.
Against ...Bg4: h3 and the bishop pair
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.Bg2 Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.exf3 e5 6.O-O Bd6
h3 asks the bishop; after ...Bxf3 White keeps two bishops.
Against a French setup
1.Nf3 e6 2.e4 d5 3.d3 c5 4.Nbd2 Nc6 5.g3 Bd6 6.Bg2 Nge7
After 1...e6 White plays e4 and d3, then g3 and Bg2.
Against a Caro-Kann setup
1.Nf3 c6 2.e4 d5 3.d3 Bg4 4.h3 Bh5 5.Nc3 e6 6.g4 Bg6
Nc3 and g4 chase the bishop and gain space.
Find the move
6 positions from the main lines, each with its idea. Your first try counts.
Position 1 of 6
1.Nf3 d5
The ideaPrepare the fianchetto.
Find the move for White.
Common mistakes
Ignoring Black’s queenside
...b5–b4 and ...a5–a4 come fast. Play c3 or a4 in time, or your attack arrives too late.
Attacking without e5
The kingside attack works when the e5 pawn pushes Black’s knight away. Without it, Black defends easily.
Related openings
Frequently asked questions
How do I learn the King’s Indian Attack?
Play it, one move at a time. The trainer on this page explains each White move before you play it, then asks you to play the line from memory. Read the main lines and traps, test yourself in the quiz, then play it in your games. The King's Indian Attack Avalanche teaches every line, with spaced review so the moves stay with you.
Is the King’s Indian Attack good for beginners?
Yes. The setup is the same against nearly everything, so you learn plans instead of move orders.
What is the difference between the King’s Indian Attack and the King’s Indian Defence?
They use the same piece setup with opposite colours. The Attack is White’s system with Nf3, g3, Bg2 and d3; the Defence is Black’s answer to 1.d4.
How should Black meet the King’s Indian Attack?
With a quick queenside expansion: ...c5, ...Nc6, ...b5 and ...b4, while keeping enough pieces near the king.
Learn every line of the King’s Indian Attack
The King's Indian Attack Avalanche teaches it as a repertoire: 80 lines, a note on every move read aloud, and spaced review so the moves stay with you. The first line is free.
A free account also reviews your games and shows where you left the lines. Sign up