King's Indian Attack: one setup against every defense

The King's Indian Attack isn't a fixed string of moves. It's a setup: after 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3, White puts the bishop on g2, castles, plays d3 and Nbd2, and finally pushes e4. Whatever Black does, White can almost always set up the same way, so there's very little to memorize. If you want one "all-purpose" White opening for free online chess, it's a great fit.

Moves and position

White's pieces go to these squares:

1. Nf3: The knight comes out, watching e5 and d4.
2. g3 and Bg2: The bishop goes to the long diagonal and protects the king after castling.
3. O-O: Tuck the king away first.
4. d3 and Nbd2: Get ready to push e4.
5. e4: Only at the end does White take the center.

Why "King's Indian"? Because it's the King's Indian Defense turned around and played by White: bishop on g2, pawns on d3 and e4, except that White has an extra move.

What White wants

• A fixed setup: No need to memorize lots of lines. Set up the pieces first.
• Push e5 to grab space: The e-pawn goes to e5 and chases the black knight off f6, leaving Black's kingside bare.
• A kingside attack: Later White often plays Re1, Nf1 and h4, then brings a knight to h2 and g4, heading straight for Black's king.

What Black wants

• Take a bit more of the center: White isn't rushing for the center, so Black grabs extra space with d5 and c5.
• Queenside pawn pushes: White attacks on the kingside, so Black pushes b5 and b4 to open things on the other side.
• Stop e5: Watch e5 with knights and queen so White can't push it.

Main lines

Starting with 1. Nf3

This is the most standard picture. White develops the knight and bishop, castles, then props up e4 with d3 and Nbd2. After Re1, e5 has two defenders, and White can push it with confidence.

Against a French setup: 1. e4 e6 2. d3

White opens with e4, and when Black answers with the French Defense's e6, White skips d4 and switches to the King's Indian Attack setup. This is its most classic use: White attacks the kingside, Black attacks the queenside, and it's a race to see who breaks through first.

Against a Sicilian setup: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d3

Players who don't want to memorize tons of Sicilian theory often use this approach. White doesn't trade off the center pawns, so the game is more closed, and again the plan is to push e5 and attack on the kingside.

A common trap: pushing e5 too early

Pushing e5 is the most important move in this opening, but first make sure e5 is well enough protected. Look at this example:

If White ignores it now and plays some other move:

Just count: two knights attack, only one knight defends, and after the trades the e5 pawn is gone. White's attack has also lost its most important anchor.

The right order is 8. Re1 first, so the rook protects the e-pawn too, then push e5. Remember: before you push a pawn forward, count whether it has enough defenders.

Who it suits

• Players who don't want to memorize lots of openings: One setup handles most of Black's defenses.
• Players who love attacking the king: After e5, you can often launch a beautiful kingside attack.
• Players who want their king tucked away first: White castles very early and is rarely caught by surprise.

Like the Réti Opening, it starts with Nf3 and puts the bishop on g2. The difference is that the Réti hits the center from the flank with c4, while the King's Indian Attack pushes through the center with d3 and e4.

FAQ

Try it yourself

Use the button below to start a game against the computer from the King's Indian Attack. Remember to set up and castle first, then push e5. For other openings, go back to the openings guide. For something different, head back to the online chess game home page.

Play this opening against the computer

Read next

• Réti Opening1. Nf3 plus c4 hits Black's d5 from the side. It's the signature opening of "hypermodern" chess.
• French DefenseBlack's pawns on e6 and d5 stand up to White's center. Defend first, attack later. The pawn structure is clear and it's hard to lose quickly.
• King's Indian DefenseBlack tucks the king away first, lets White take the center, and strikes back with e5 or c5 when the time is right.