How to beat the King's Indian Defense

Black gives White the centre and launches a kingside attack with ...e5 and ...f5. It's sharp, double-edged and loved by aggressive players.

Three plans that work

1. Play on the queenside, fast

In the main lines the centre closes after d5. White's play is c5 and a queenside pawn storm, so get there before Black's kingside attack arrives.

2. Or take the sting out with a quieter set-up

The Fianchetto (g3, Bg2) or the London-style Bf4 lines avoid the sharpest main lines and make Black prove their ideas in slower positions.

3. Keep the e4/d5 bind

Once the centre is locked, Black's pieces lack squares. Don't open the centre on Black's terms.

A line to play

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O

The pitfall

Defending passively on the kingside while doing nothing on the queenside is how most White players lose to the KID.

What the data says

In 114 recent games of the top 100 titled Lichess players featuring the King's Indian Defense, they scored 62% on average. Players who use it most: GM Fabsid (87%), FM Romaa2011 (54%), GM XuYL_1a (50%), GM cutemouse83 (77%), GM indianstar (55%), IM Mlchael (50%), GM abhijeet1610 (70%), NM Andrey11976 (56%).

Prepare against the actual player

Averages only go so far. A King's Indian Defense player has their own pet variations and weak spots. Before your next game, get a free fingerprint of your opponent, or get the full prep report ($5): every variation they play, where they score worst, and a game plan for both colours.