History
The use of the King's Indian Attack at grandmaster level was originally an offshoot from the widespread use of the King's Indian Defence in the 1950s. As grandmasters began to appreciate the advantages of playing the King's Indian Defence as Black, the use of the same system as White, with an extra move in hand, inevitably became attractive. Prominent players who have employed the King's Indian Attack include Bobby Fischer (mostly in his early career), Mikhail Botvinnik, Vasily Smyslov, Tigran Petrosian, Leonid Stein, Rafael Vaganian, Ljubomir Ljubojevic, Gregory Kaidanov, Igor Glek, Alexander Morozevich, Victor Bologan, and Levon Aronian. The use of the KIA was also advocated by the prominent chess trainer IM Mark Dvoretsky, who also employed the system in his own games. Today the King's Indian Attack is relatively uncommon at grandmaster level. The most frequent high-level practitioner is Egyptian grandmaster Bassem Amin. The KIA is popular at the club level, however, because of its system-like elements, repeatable middlegame plans, and the ability to launch a kingside attack from a stable position.Characteristics
In the King's Indian Attack, White uses the same setup adopted by Black in the King's Indian Defence. Due to White's extraTypical lines
The King's Indian Attack most frequently arises against the French Defence using the move order 1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 (to avoid an exchange of queens after 3...dxe4) 3...c5. Identical lines can arise via a Sicilian Defence move order, typically via 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d3 and a subsequent Nbd2. If Black plays a Sicilian variation with 2...d6 or 2...Nc6, White can still continue with the King's Indian Attack setup, but in these cases it would be considered less effective (Black will either have a pawn on d6, meaning that the characteristic pawn push e4–e5 will not create a bind, or a pawn on e5, preventing e4-e5 altogether). After 1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 c5, the game might typically proceed as follows: 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1 (see diagram in previous section). White will now look to play e4–e5, cramping Black, and then proceed with moves such as Nf1, Bf4, Qe2, h4, N1h2 (or Ne3), h5, g4 (or Ng4) with a kingside attack. Note that the position after 8.Re1 could also have been obtained via a 1.Nf3 move order (e.g. 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c5 4.0-0 Nc6 5.d3 e6 etc.). The Kings Indian Attack setup is also sometimes employed against the Caro–Kann Defence, e.g. 1.e4 c6 2.d3 d5 3.Nbd2 e5 4.Ngf3 Bd6 5.g3 etc. Some practitioners at club level, determined to use the KIA as a system, may even use the setup after 1.e4 e5 (giving a reversed Pirc Defence), although this cannot be regarded as a genuine attempt to secure an advantage from the opening. When employed via a 1.Nf3 move order, play sometimes develops along the lines of the Franco-Sicilian type structures considered above. Alternatively, Black can look to develop the c8-bishop outside of the pawn chain, either to Bg4 (the Keres System, e.g. 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 4.0-0 Bg4) or to Bf5 (giving a reversed London System). Black can also develop along the lines typically adopted by White in the King's Indian Defence: e.g. 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.0-0 e5 5.d3 Nf6. This line is referred to as the Reversed King's Indian.Illustrative games
* Fischer vs. Myagmarsuren; Sousse Interzonal 1967References
Bibliography
* Bologan, Victor (2018): Winning with the King's Indian Attack (PC-DVD), Hamburg: ChessBase GmbH, ISBN 9783866816701 * Dunnington, Angus (1998): The Ultimate King's Indian Attack, London: B.T.Batsford Ltd, * Dvoretsky, Mark and Yusopov, Artur (2007): Secrets of Opening Preparation, Germany: Edition Olms * Eggers, Heiko (2008): Theorie der Eröffnung - Königsindischer Angriff - Das Spielsystem mit dem Aufbau Sf3/g3/Lg2/0-0/d3/Sbd2/, Norderstedt: Books on Demand, * Emms, John (2005): Starting Out: King's Indian Attack, London: Everyman Chess, * Hall, John and Cartier, Jan R (1996): Modern King's Indian Attack: A complete System for White, Dallas Texas, Hays Publishing * Konikowski, Jerzy and Ullrich, Robert (2018): The King's Indian Attack... Properly Played, Germany: Beyer Joachim Verlag, ISBN 978-3959209748 * McDonald, Neil (2014): The King's Indian Attack: Move by Move, London: Everyman Chess, * 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,Further reading
* Davies, Nigel (2008): King's Indian Attack, Hamburg: ChessBase GmbH, fritztrainer opening, * Dunnington, Angus (1993): How to Play - The King's Indian Attack - Openings, London: B.T. Batsford Ltd, * 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 * Hall, John (1972): A Complete Opening System for White: King's Indian Attack, Dallas: Chess Digest Magazine, no ISBN * Henley, Ron and Hodges, Paul (1993): Power Play - The King's Indian Attack, Hagerstown: R&D Publishing, * Henley, Ron and Maddox, Don (1993): The ChessBase University BlueBook Guide To Winning With - The King's Indian Attack, Hagerstown: R&D Publishing, * Maddox, Don (2002): Königsindischer Angriff - Schach Training, Hamburg: ChessBase GmbH, * New In Chess Yearbook (1998): King's Indian Attack: Black castles kingside, Alkmaar: Interchess BV, Vol. 49, , p. 186-190 * New In Chess Yearbook (1999): King's Indian Attack, Alkmaar: Interchess BV, Vol. 50, , p. 182-186 * New In Chess Yearbook (2005): King's Indian Attack, Alkmaar: Interchess BV, Vol. 76, , p. 228-232 * Norwood, David (1991): King's Indian Attack, London: Trends Publications, without ISBN * Schiller, Eric (1989): How To Play The Kings Indian Attack, Moon Township: Chess Enterprises, * Tangborn, Eric (1992): A Fischer Favorite: The King's Indian Attack – with 46 fully annotated Games, o.O.: International Chess Enterprises, * Weinstein, Norman (1976): The King's Indian Attack, Dallas: Chess Digest Magazine, no ISBNExternal links