King's Indian Defense · E69

Fianchetto Variation, Classical Main Line

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. e4 c6 9. h3

The pawns on d4 and e5 stand in direct tension - the first player to resolve it chooses the structure. 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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