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Opening Guide · ECO E60
King's Indian Defense
Black concedes the center on purpose, then detonates it: the KID produces the most violent kingside attacks in chess.
The moves
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g7g6
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How to play it
- Fianchetto, castle, play …d6 and …e5, and when White closes with d5 — begin the sacred plan: …f5, …f4, …g5, …g4 and mate.
- Every piece points at White's king: …Nf6–h5/e8–g7 supports the pawn storm; the g7-bishop waits behind the avalanche.
- Ignore the queenside — genuinely. Grandmasters say the KID trades White's queenside for Black's checkmate.
How opponents will fight back
- Race faster: the Bayonet (b4!) and c5 crash through the queenside before the kingside storm lands.
- The Exchange Variation (dxe5) kills the attack at the cost of ambition — a practical weapon against attackers.
- Keep a knight ready for e4 and never let …f4 come with tempo on your pieces.
⚠ Trap to know: White grabbing the a/b files while ignoring …g3! is the classic KID story — h2 collapses and the engine says +2 for the checkmated side.
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