King's Indian Defense · E63
Fianchetto Variation, Panno Variation, Korchnoi Line
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nc6 7. Nc3 a6 8. h3 Rb8 9. Be3 b5 10. Nd2
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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Where this fits
This line is one of 119 in the King's Indian Defense. If you want to know where your own games leave it, the guide on leaving theory explains how that is found.
