♞Chess Trainer
A07bPlay as Black2 lines to train

Learn the King's Indian Attack

A flexible kingside fianchetto system that delays central commitment and builds a familiar attack. Black aims to take central space and create queenside play before White’s attack begins.

Practice this openingUnderstand the moves
Main line

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7

1.Nf31…d52.g32…Nf63.Bg23…e64.O-O4…Be7

The idea

Why this opening works

The King's Indian Attack gives Black a clear route to take central space and create queenside play before White’s attack begins. Its recurring positions revolve around the e5 wedge, kingside piece buildup, and opposite-wing play, so the repertoire rewards understanding the structure as much as remembering the move order.

What to remember

  • Know the first 8 half-moves of the main line.
  • Understand the purpose of your key moves before adding more theory.
  • Practice the branches until you can respond without move-order guessing.

Move by move

The moves worth understanding

Theory sticks when every move has a job. Start with these ideas from the trainer.

Scroll down through 6 positions

  1. Position 1 of 6

    1...d5

    d7 → d5

    d5 begins the King's Indian Attack plan: take central space and create queenside play before White’s attack begins.

  2. Position 2 of 6

    2...Nf6

    g8 → f6

    Nf6 develops or reroutes the knight toward the central squares that drive this opening.

  3. Position 3 of 6

    3...e6

    e7 → e6

    e6 reinforces the center and prepares the next piece-development or pawn-break decision.

  4. Position 4 of 6

    4...Be7

    f8 → e7

    Be7 activates the bishop on a diagonal that supports the opening’s central and kingside ideas.

  5. Position 5 of 6

    2...g6

    g7 → g6

    g6 gains kingside space and prepares the pawn lever that gives this setup its attacking potential.

  6. Position 6 of 6

    3...Bg7

    f8 → g7

    Bg7 activates the bishop on a diagonal that supports the opening’s central and kingside ideas.

Trainer variations

Lines you’ll meet

These are representative branches from the drill, not a demand to memorize everything at once.

Line 11. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7
Line 21. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7

Quick answers

King's Indian Attack questions

What is the King's Indian Attack?

A flexible kingside fianchetto system that delays central commitment and builds a familiar attack. Black aims to take central space and create queenside play before White’s attack begins. The King's Indian Attack gives Black a clear route to take central space and create queenside play before White’s attack begins. Its recurring positions revolve around the e5 wedge, kingside piece buildup, and opposite-wing play, so the repertoire rewards understanding the structure as much as remembering the move order.

What is the main line of the King's Indian Attack?

This trainer starts with 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7. The exact move order can change by variation, so learn the purpose of each move as well as the sequence.

Is the King's Indian Attack good to learn as Black?

It can be a useful part of a Black repertoire if its positions match how you like to play. Learn the main plan first, then use the drill to test the recurring replies.

Study next

B20bSicilian DefenseFight for the initiative as Black with 1...c5 — asymmetric and combative.1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5C00bFrench DefenseA resilient and strategic defense to 1.e4 with 1...e6.1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+E60bKing's Indian DefenseA hypermodern defense — let White build the center, then counter-attack it.1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. d5 Nbd7

Turn the guide into recall

Now play the King's Indian Attack from memory.

The drill gives you an opponent reply, checks your response, and repeats the branches that need more work.

Start the free drillAll opening guides