The King’s Indian Defense

GM Damian Lemos

Lemos Deep Dive #6

Put your opponent on the defensive with the classic counter-attacking weapon against 1.d4,
the King’s Indian Defense – the choice of World Champions from Bobby Fischer to Garry
Kasparov.

In this comprehensive 9 hour Deep Dive course, GM Damian Lemos reveals all you need to
know to become an expert in the King’s Indian Defense (1.d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7),
demonstrating how to combat each of the main White variations in turn.

The active King’s Indian Defense repertoire recommended by GM Lemos will frustrate White
players used to trying their pet lines, while giving Black excellent chances to play for a win in
all variations.

The King’s Indian Defense is the definitive answer to 1.d4 and will serve you well for the
whole of your playing career. If you want an opening system that your opponents will fear and
will produce attacking wins by the bucketload, master the King’s Indian Defense with GM
Damian Lemos’ Deep Dive course!

Summary:

Part 1 (An Active Repertoire in the King’s Indian Defense)

Introduction to the King’s Indian Defense

Chapter 1: Smyslov’s Solid 4.Nf3 and 5.Bg5, Kavutskiy-Ivanisevic
Chapter 2: Pseudo-London 5.Bf4, Arngrimsson-Jones
Chapter 3: Seirawan’s 5.Bd3 & 6.Nge2, Malakhov-Grischuk
Chapter 4: Taming the Caveman 6.Ng3, Carlsen-Radjabov
Chapter 5: Four Pawns Attack (5.f4) sidelines, Topalov-Kasparov
Chapter 6: Four Pawns Attack (8.dxe6 and 8.Be2 exd5 9.exd5), Sale-Damljanovic
Chapter 7: Four Pawns Attack Main Line 9.cxd5, Vaisser-Glek
Chapter 8: Samisch 5.f3 introduction
Chapter 9: Samisch 6.Be3 Main Line, Battaglini-Cheparinov
Chapter 10: Samisch with 6.Bg5, Milton-Korobov
Chapter 11: Averbakh 5.Be2 and 6.Bg5 introduction, Kunin-Skoberne
Chapter 12: Averbakh with 7.h4, Yakovich-Smirin
Chapter 13: Averbakh with 7.f4 and 8.Qd2
Chapter 14: Averbakh with 7.f4 and 8.Nf3, Bagirov-Khismatullin
Chapter 15: Averbakh with 8.Nf3, Yu-Ding
Chapter 16: Makogonov 5.h3 Part 1, Bluebaum-Carlsen
Chapter 17: Makogonov Part 2, Lulupescu-Nevednichy
Chapter 18: 5.Be2 and 6.Be3 system, Wojtaszek-Ding
Chapter 19: Classical 5.Nf3 and 6.Be2 Qe8!? Introduction, Pulvett Marin-Jones
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Chapter 20: Classical 6…Qe8!? Main Line, Bogner-Berkes
Chapter 21: Classical 6…Qe8!? Main Line continued
Chapter 22: Fianchetto Variation, Moskalenko-Andreikin

Part 2 (Model Games)

Chapter 23: Double Fianchetto vs. London System, Vovk-Wei

Chapter 24: Blasting the Long Diagonal, Timman-Kasparov
Chapter 25: Kamikaze Attack, Leniart-Nakamura, and Benko-style, Elbilia-Shirov

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 Introduction to the King’s Indian Defense
1. GM Lemos gives a brief summary of the King’s Indian Defense, explaining its main ideas
and why it’s an interesting and practical defense to play.

Chapter 1: Smyslov’s Solid 4.Nf3 and 5.Bg5, Kavutskiy-

Ivanisevic
1. 4.Nf3 is a flexible move for White which can still transpose to various lines against the
King’s Indian Defense.
2. As usual in the King’s Indian Defense, Black should develop his kingside pieces first and
then challenge the center with …c5.
3. The pressure over the d4 pawn will force White to make a defining decision over his
central pawn structure.
4. If the d-pawn advances, Black has two good options: play a dynamic pawn break on the
queenside with ...b7-b5 weakening the d-pawn’s defense, or to play a more solid line
with …d6 planning to gain central space and to ensure a mobile pawn majority on the
kingside.

Chapter 2: Pseudo-London 5.Bf4, Arngrimsson-Jones

1. White usually combines 5.Bf4 with 6.e3. If White plays 6.e4, Black can play 6…Bg4,
followed by …Nc6 and …Nd7 putting a lot of pressure on White’s d4-pawn.
2. Again, Black has two sound options against White’s setup with 6.e3: He can go for a
double fianchetto with …Nbd7, …b6 and …Bb7 and finally …e5 breaking open the
center.
3. Black can also challenge the center with …c5 and …e5 as in Chapter 1. After that,
Black gets a strong initiative on the kingside with …f5 and …g5.

Chapter 3: Seirawan’s 5.Bd3 & 6.Nge2, Malakhov-

Grischuk
1. Against 4.e4, Black starts with 4…d6 instead of 4…0-0 which is more flexible against
4.Nf3. The move 4…d6 prevents White from playing a quick e5.
2. Against 5.Bd3 and 6.Nge2, Black plays the thematic ...c5 opting for a favorable
Benoni position as White’s knight on e2 is badly placed.
3. Black’s plan is to open the e-file with …e6 and …exd5 going for an ideal piece setup
with 9…Nfd7! planning to play …Ne5 and bring the other knight to b4 via a6 putting
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 a lot of pressure on the weak d3-square.
4. Due to the bad placement of White’s knight on e2, Black also has plenty of strong
attacking ideas against White’s king with …Ng4, …Bd4 and …Qh4!

Chapter 4: Taming the Caveman 6.Ng3, Carlsen-Radjabov

1. In the line with 5.Nge2 and 6.Ng3, White wants to start a quick kingside attack with h2-
h4-h5.
2. As Teimour Radjabov - one of the world’s leading King’s Indian Defense experts - did
against Magnus Carlsen, Black should counter White’s attack on the kingside with a
counterattack in the center, playing 6…e5!
3. White is forced to try to keep the center closed with 7.d5. Due to his better
development, Black is already slightly better after moves like 7.dxe5 dxd5 or 7.Be3
exd4.
4. After 7.d5, Black can play 7…a5, gaining control over the b4-square and planning to
bring the knight on b8 to the strong outpost c5. Black should counter White’s move
9.h4 with 9…h5.
5. After 10.Bg5, it is important to remember the key maneuver 10…Qe8! stepping out of
the pin and 11…Nh7! with the idea to play …f5 later.

Chapter 5: Four Pawns Attack (5.f4) sidelines, Topalov-

Kasparov
1. The Four Pawns Attack is the most aggressive setup for White against the King’s Indian
Defense. With 5.f4, White builds up a massive pawn center. In return, however, White
falls behind in development.
2. GM Damian Lemos suggests to challenge White’s center with 6…c5. The main move for
White is 7.d5. If White plays a calm move like 7.Be2 instead, Black can open the
position with 7…cxd4. Now White’s move 5.f4 turns out to be a move which weakened
his position.
3. If White plays 7.dxc5, Black has the strong reply 7…Qa5! The knight on c3 is under
pressure and Black immediately threatens to play 8…Nxe4. After 8.Bd3 Qxc5, Black wins
back his pawn and enjoys a nice position with good squares for his pieces.

Chapter 6: Four Pawns Attack (8.dxe6 and 8.Be2 exd5

9.exd5), Sale-Damljanovic
1. After the main continuation 7.d5 8.Be2 exd5, White does not necessarily have to play
the main move 9.cxd5, but he can also choose to play 9.exd5.
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 2. After 9.exd5, however, White’s pawn on f4 is misplaced and it would be better for White
to still have the pawn on f2.
3. White has a clear weakness on e4 and Black can attack this square with …Re8 and
…Bf5.
4. If White plays 8.dxe6 instead of 8.Be2, it is important for Black to remember taking
back the f-pawn as after 8…Bxe6, White has ideas to play f4-f5 at an appropriate
moment. After 8…fxe6, Black plans to play …Nd4 and stabilize the knight with the
move …e5.

Chapter 7: Four Pawns Attack Main Line 9.cxd5, Vaisser-

Glek
1. After 7.d5 e6 8.Be2 exd5 9.cxd5, Black should play 9…Bg4. As White wants to continue
his attack with e4-e5, Black’s idea is to exchange the bishop for the knight.
2. Moreover, the move 9…Bg4 makes room for a quick queenside development. Black’s
knight on b8 can come to d7, the rook on a8 can go to b8 and Black is ready to create
counterplay on the queenside with …b5.
3. Black always has the idea to play the move …Ne8 in order to prevent White from
playing e4-e5. Once Black’s knight on f6 moves to e8, the bishop on g7 controls the e5
square.

Chapter 8: Samisch 5.f3 introduction

1. The Samisch Variation often leads to very sharp play with White castling queenside and
Black castling kingside. The move 5.f3 defends the pawn on e4 and allows White to
launch an attack with moves like Be3, Qd2, Bh6, g4 and h4.
2. The downside of the move 5.f3, however, is that stops White from developing his
knight on g1 to the most natural square f3. Hence, White often has problems to
develop his kingside.

Chapter 9: Samisch 6.Be3 Main Line, Battaglini-

Cheparinov
1. Against the move 6.Be3, GM Damian Lemos suggests to counter in the center with
6…e5.
2. White usually replies with 7.d5 which locks in Black’s bishop on g7.
3. Black has a strong maneuver to activate his dark-squared bishop. After 7…Nh5! 8.g4
Nf4!, Black has transferred his knight to a nice outpost. Once White takes the knight,
the h8-a1 diagonal opens and Black’s bishop on g7 springs to life.
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 Chapter 10: Samisch with 6.Bg5, Milton-Korobov
1. The move 6.Bg5 is tricky and Black has to be careful. He can’t play 6…e5? due to the
pin after 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Nd5!
2. Instead, GM Lemos suggests to play 6…Nc6 and 7…a6 with the idea to counter in the
center with …e5 or on the queenside with …b5.
3. If White immediately attacks Black’s knight on c6 with 7.d5, Black can play 7…Ne5.
Here, White has problems to develop his pieces as 8.Nh3 Bxh3 9.gxh3 weakens
White’s pawn structure and 8.Ne2 is not possible as the pawn on c4 would be
hanging.

Chapter 11: Averbakh 5.Be2 and 6.Bg5 introduction,

Kunin-Skoberne
1. The Averbakh variation with 5.Be2 and 6.Bg5 prevents Black’s thematic move 6…e5 due
to 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Nd5, with a double attack on f6 and c7.
2. Black should first play 6…Na6! which protects the pawn on c7. If White plays a waiting
move, Black can now go for …e5!

Chapter 12: Averbakh with 7.h4, Yakovich-Smirin

1. 7.h4 is an overaggressive move. Black must play actively!
2. As Black’s knight on a6 guards the c7-pawn, Black can immediately counter in the
center with 7…e5.
3. After 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Qxd8 Rxd8 10.Nd5 Rd6! 11.Nxf6 Bxf6 12.Bxf6 Rxf6, Black
already has the better endgame. He has the better bishop and White has a hole on
d4.
4. 8.d5 can be met with 8…h6 9.Be3 Nc5 (attacking the pawn on e4) 10.Qc2 c6,
opening the center. Black wants to take on d5 and set White under pressure on the
queenside with …Qa5! and …Rac8!

Chapter 13: Averbakh with 7.f4 and 8.Qd2

1. Black meets 7.f4 with the flexible 7…c6. This move looks like a calm move at first
glance, but it has a deep strategic idea. Black is going to to play …Nc7! and …Ne6!,
attacking White’s bishop on g5.
2. If White plays 8.Qd2 Nc7 9.Bf3, Black has the chance to play 9…d5, breaking open the
center!
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 3. After 10.exd5 cxd5 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.cxd5, Black has the instructive pawn
sacrifice 13…e6!!

Chapter 14: Averbakh with 7.f4 and 8.Nf3, Bagirov-

Khismatullin
1. White wants to castle queenside and create an attack against Black’s king.
2. Black must not allow White to keep the center closed. Instead, Black hits back in the
center with 9…d5!
3. 10.e5 can be met by 10…Ne4! 11.Nxe4 dxe4 and White is already in trouble. Black plans
to play …Ne6, attacking the pawn on d4 and the bishop on g5.

Chapter 15: Averbakh with 8.Nf3, Yu-Ding

1. After 8.Nf3, Black can immediately win the bishop pair with 8…h6 9.Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 Nh5!
2. Black is able to play aggressively against White’s setup.
3. Due to the fact that Black’s knight is no longer on f6, Black’s bishop on g7 eyes White’s
pawn on d4. After 11…c5! 12.Qd2 g4!, Black already wins the d4-pawn.

Chapter 16: Makogonov 5.h3 Part 1, Bluebaum-Carlsen

1. The Makogonov variation or 6.h3 variation is a fashionable line for White against the
King’s Indian Defense.
2. By playing 6.h3, White not only stops Black from playing …Bg4, but also prepares to
play g4 himself. Both sides try to play on the kingside in this line.
3. Black plays the flexible move 6…Na6 against this line, planning to bring the knight to c5,
from where it attacks the e4-pawn. The knight should be supported by the move …a5.
4. Black often has the chance to play Nf6-h5-f4. Once White plays g2-g4, the knight
finds an outpost on f4. If White takes the knight, Black can recapture with the e-
pawn, opening the h8-a1 diagonal for the bishop.

Chapter 17: Makogonov Part 2, Lulupescu-Nevednichy

1. The main line for White in the Makogonov Variation is 7.Be3.
2. Black is able to immediately challenge White’s center with …c5. After 8.Be2 cxd4
9.Nxd4, we reach a Maroczy Bind position which is favorable for Black.
3. Black can put pressure on the e4-pawn with 9…Nc5! And White has difficulties to defend
the pawn. Protecting the pawn with f2-f3 is bad, because White has already played h2-
h3. Black can attack the weaknesses on the dark squares in White’s camp with …Nh5.

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 Chapter 18: 5.Be2 and 6.Be3 system, Wojtaszek-Ding
1. Again, White delays the development of the knight on g1 in this system.
2. As Ding Liren did, Black should go for a flexible setup as well, playing …c6, …Na6 and
…e5.
3. If White takes on e5 and castles kingside, Black can play …Qe7, avoiding an
exchange of queens, and the Nf6-h5-f4 maneuver.
4. Black has the better game as White has a weak square on d4, whilst Black’s pawn on
c6 defends the d5-square.

Chapter 19: Classical 5.Nf3 and 6.Be2 Qe8!?

Introduction, Pulvett Marin-Jones
1. White’s setup with 5.Nf3 and 6.Be2 is the absolute main line against the King’s Indian
Defense. Black usually plays 6…e5, which can lead to the Petrosian Variation after 7.d5,
the Exchange Variation after 7.dxe5 or the Mar del Plata Variation after 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5
Ne7.
2. Instead of the highly theoretical 6…e5, GM Damian Lemos suggests a promising sideline
for Black, starting with 6…Qe8. One big advantage is that Black sidesteps all the long
and forcing lines after 6…e5.
3. Many White players will be tempted to punish Black’s strange looking move 6…Qe8 with
7.e5. After 7…dxe5, White has two options. If he plays 8.dxe5, Black can put strong
pressure on the e5-pawn with 8…Ng4 9.Bf4 Nc6. If White plays 8.Nxe5, Black can
immediately break open the center with 8…c5!
4. In this line, White is behind in development and he has to defend the d4-pawn. If White
tries to catch up in development with 9.0-0, Black has 9…cxd4 10.Qxd4 Nfd7! and due
to the pin against the knight on e5, White is already in huge trouble.

Chapter 20: Classical 6…Qe8!? Main Line, Bogner-Berkes

1. After 6…Qe8 7.0-0 e5, White has three moves at his disposal – 8.d5, 8.Re1 and 8.dxe5.
2. If White closes the center with 8.d5, Black can start playing on the kingside with
8…Nfd7 and f7-f5.
3. If White keeps the tension in the center with 8.Re1, Black continues with 8…exd4
9.Nxd4 Nxe4! After 10.Bf3, the pin against Black knight on e4 looks dangerous, but
Black has 10…Nxc3! and he is simply up a pawn.
4. Finally, if White exchanges pawns with 8.dxe5 dxe5, Black goes for a quick …Bg4,
exchanging White’s knight on f3. Afterwards, Black can bring his queen to e6 and his
knight on b8 comes to d7, covering all important squares in Black’s camp.

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 Chapter 21: Classical 6…Qe8!? Main Line continued
1. After 6…Qe8, White can also play 7.Be3. This move seems to stop Black from playing
7…e5 as it seems he loses an exchange after 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Bc5. Black’s rook on f8 has
no squares. It’s important for Black to remember this trap.
2. However, Black can still play 7…e5! If White takes the pawn with 8.dxe5, Black can play
8…Ng4!
3. If White accepts the pawn sacrifice with 9.exd6, Black can damage White’s pawn
structure with 9…Nxe3 10.fxe3 cxd6. Black has the bishop pair and several weak
pawns in White’s camp to target.
4. If White does not take on d6, Black can recapture on e5 with the knight in the next
move. He’ll reach a balanced position with all pieces still on the board.

Chapter 22: Fianchetto Variation, Moskalenko-Andreikin

1. The Fianchetto Variation usually leads to a positional struggle. GM Lemos suggests to
play the flexible move 6…c6, blocking the h1-a8 diagonal and allowing Black to not
showing his cards yet. He can still go for different piece setups.
2. After White’s most natural move, 7.Nc3, GM Lemos suggests to play 7…Bf5, followed by
…Ne4 or …Qc8 and …Bh3.
3. After …Ne4, Black can often take on c3 and play …Be4. Since Black can support the
bishop with …d5, this bishop can’t be driven away and White can only try to
exchange it against his bishop on g2. This, however, gives Black a comfortable,
equal position with no weaknesses.

Part 2 (Model Games)

Chapter 23: Double Fianchetto vs. London System, Vovk-

Wei
1. White does not necessarily need to place his pawn on c4 in the second move against the
King’s Indian Defense. A famous setup for White is to play the London System – a solid
opening setup in which White develops all his pieces to natural squares.
2. Against the London System, GM Lemos suggests to play a double fianchetto.
3. Black’s plan is to advance his pawn to e5 in order to claim some space in the center.
Therefore, he usually goes for …Nbd7 and …Qe8!
4. Once Wei Yi managed to play …e5, he quickly took over the initiative with the
aggressive moves 13…e4!, 14…Ne5 and 20…f5!
5. Black’s play on the kingside with …Qg5 and …f4 turned out to be crushing and White

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 did not manage to defend against all of Black’s pieces.

Chapter 24: Blasting the Long Diagonal, Timman-

Kasparov
1. In order to properly learn a new opening, it is not enough to take a closer look at
theoretical lines, you also need to study some classical model games which were played
from the opening you want to play.
2. In this game, one of the world’s most famous King’s Indian experts, Garry Kasparov,
crushes White in the Samisch Variation. After White castles queenside, it is key to
remember Garry’s idea to break open the queenside with …a6! and …b5!
3. Kasparov instructively opens the h8-a1 diagonal against White’s king at the cost of a
whole piece to successfully mate White. This shows us once more what a deadly
monster the bishop on g7 can become in the King’s Indian Defense.

Chapter 25: Kamikaze Attack, Leniart-Nakamura, and

Benko-style, Elbilia-Shirov
1. By watching Hikaru Nakamura’s instructive play, we discover that a quick mating attack
with Bg5, Qd2, Bh6 and h2-h4 does not work for White.
2. GM Nakamura counterattacks in the center with …c5 and proves that White’s king on e1
is even weaker than Black’s king on g8.
3. GM Alexei Shirov presents a second way to counter the main line in the Four Pawns
Attacks after 7.d5 with 7…b5.
4. After 8.cxb5 a6 9.bxa6 Qa5, Shirov destroys White’s position with active piece play in
a Benko-Gambit-style.

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