King's Indian Defense · E61

Fianchetto Variation, Benjamin Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 c6 7. O-O Qb6

White's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal and Black's kingside bishop takes the long diagonal. White mirrors the g-bishop and denies Black the usual attacking targets: a positional KID where the centre and queenside count more than mating nets.

The first 4 moves, explained

• 1. d4 Stakes a claim in the centre, controlling e5, and frees the bishop and queen.
• 1... Nf6 Develops the knight to f6, eyeing d5 and e4.
• 2. c4 Fights for d5 from the flank - contesting the centre without committing a centre pawn.
• 2... g6 Prepares the fianchetto: the bishop will take the long diagonal via g7. Theory calls this the West Indian Defense.

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