King's Indian: Classical Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 · E91–E99
Part of King's Indian Defense
Starting positionWhite to move
0 / 16
Every piece knows which wing it belongs to
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- 2.
- 3.
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The idea
The main line: White develops quietly with Be2 and castles, Black fixes the centre with ...e5, and both sides then attack on opposite wings.
Main line: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7
What White wants
- Close the centre with d5 and attack on the queenside with c5 and b4
- Manoeuvre the knight to the queenside via e1, d3 and c5
- Hold the kingside with the pieces, not the pawns
What Black wants
- Play ...f5 and ...f4 and then ...g5 and ...g4 against the white king
- Manoeuvre the knight to the kingside via d7 and f6 or h5
- Bring the queen and rooks into the attack before sacrificing pawns
Key idea
Understand this and the moves stop needing to be memorised.
Every piece knows which wing it belongs to
In the Classical King's Indian the plans are fixed early: White's knights go to the queenside via e1–d3–c5, Black's go to the kingside via f6–h5 or d7–f6. Whoever reroutes faster usually wins the race.
Common mistake
Racing on the queenside without monitoring ...f5–f4 and ...g5–g4. White's space gives useful counterplay, not immunity to an attack. Keep defenders near the king and calculate whether a central exchange or a timely defensive move interrupts Black's build-up.
Representative position
The position this opening is aiming at. Copy the FEN, or open it in the analysis board and let the engine tell you what it is worth.
r1bq1rk1/ppp1npbp/3p1np1/3Pp3/2P1P3/2N2N2/PP2BPPP/R1BQ1RK1 w - - 1 9
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