King's Indian Defense tactics

The most uncompromising defence in chess: Black gives away the centre on purpose and plays for mate.

120 positions in the course
Difficulty 1178–2315
Section: Openings
5 levels

What the King's Indian produces tactically

After the centre locks, the game becomes a race. Black plays f5 and then f4, g5, h5 at White's king; White plays c5 and b5 at Black's queenside. Both attacks are real, and the tactics are about which arrives first.

The g7 bishop is the piece the whole opening is built around. It looks buried behind the e5 pawn for twenty moves and then decides the game the instant the long diagonal opens, which is why so many King's Indian tactics are sacrifices that open it.

How to spot it

Count tempi in the two attacks before choosing any slow move.
The long diagonal is the point. Any tactic that opens it is worth material.
Black's f5-f4 and g5-g4 pawn storm is the main mechanism; look at what each push opens rather than what it attacks.
White's play is on the c-file and the b5 break. The tactics there are usually about a knight reaching c7 or d6.

Three King's Indian positions

Three positions from the 120 in this skill, easiest first. The highlighted squares are the move your opponent has just played. Work it out before you open the answer.

Position 1

White to move. Find the best move.

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17...fxe5 18.Be6+ Kg7 19.Qxe5+

The line comes out 1 pawn ahead. Both sides are attacking on opposite wings, and the move shown is about arriving first or opening the long diagonal.

The position comes from the middlegame of a real game, rated 1284 for difficulty. The answer reaches a winning advantage.

Position 2

Black to move. Find the best move.

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17.g4 17...Nxf4 18.gxf5 18...Nxh5

The line wins a piece. Both sides are attacking on opposite wings, and the move shown is about arriving first or opening the long diagonal.

The position comes from the middlegame of a real game, rated 1635 for difficulty. The answer reaches a winning advantage.

Position 3

White to move. Find the best move.

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16...Nfd7 17.Nb5 Qe7 18.Nc7+

The line comes out level on material and ahead on position. Both sides are attacking on opposite wings, and the move shown is about arriving first or opening the long diagonal.

The position comes from the opening of a real game, rated 1964 for difficulty. The answer reaches a clear advantage.

Drill this pattern until it is automatic 120 more positions on king's indian, in five graded levels, in the free Reflex Chess trainer. No account needed to start. Practise king's indian

Whether it suits you

The King's Indian is the clearest example in chess of an opening that suits a temperament rather than a level. It produces winning chances against anyone and it loses badly when the race is lost.

The practical warning is the Bayonet and the Mar del Plata main lines, which are heavily analysed. Black's attack is fast but it is not automatic, and a tempo lost in the storm is usually the game.

Questions people ask

Is the King's Indian Defense good for club players?

It is excellent for players who want to play for a win with Black and are comfortable in sharp positions. It is a poor fit for anyone who prefers to equalise safely, because equalising is not what it does.

Why does Black let White take the whole centre?

Because a locked centre makes the wings the only place anything can happen, and Black's pieces -- especially the g7 bishop and the knights manoeuvring behind the pawn storm -- are better set up for the kingside race than White's are for defending it.

Nearby patterns

King's Indian sits in Openings. The rest of that section: