King's Indian Defense · E61
Main line
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3
In the centre, White holds d4.
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.