E60
Queen's Pawn, Mengarini Attack
Key moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6
The King's Indian Defence is one of the most dynamic and combative responses to 1.d4. Black allows White to build a big centre, then counterattacks it with ...e5 or ...c5. The resulting positions are among the most complex and double-edged in chess.
History & Notable Players
Became a major weapon in the 1950s through David Bronstein and later Bobby Fischer. Garry Kasparov made it his primary weapon against 1.d4, and it remains the choice of fighting players worldwide.
Top Players in this Opening
Related Openings
E61 - King's Indian Defense355E62 - King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Larsen Defense531E63 - King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Panno Variation268E64 - King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Yugoslav System84E65 - King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Yugoslav Variation102E66 - King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Yugoslav Variation, Advance Line119E67 - King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Debrecen Defense188E68 - King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Long Variation330E69 - King's Indian Defense: Fianchetto Variation, Classical Main Line272
Best Games
Keymer,Vincent vs Giri,A1/2-1/2
87th Tata Steel Masters 2025Notable
Mamedyarov,S vs So,W0-1
Tata Steel India Blitz 2022Notable
Aronian,L vs Caruana,F0-1
Saint Louis Blitz 2022 2022Notable
Nakamura,Hi vs Svidler,P1-0
Saint Louis Rapid 2021 2021Notable
Ding Liren vs Nepomniachtchi,I1-0
FIDE Candidates 2020 2021Notable
Ding Liren vs Vachier Lagrave,M1/2-1/2
FIDE Candidates 2020 2021Notable
Aronian,L vs Carlsen,M1/2-1/2
11th London Classic 2019 2019Notable
Karjakin,Sergey vs Nepomniachtchi,I1/2-1/2
7th Sinquefield Cup 2019 2019Notable
Mamedyarov,S vs Nepomniachtchi,I1/2-1/2
81st Tata Steel GpA 2019Notable
Carlsen,M vs Nepomniachtchi,I1/2-1/2
81st Tata Steel GpA 2019Notable
Mamedyarov,S vs Carlsen,M1/2-1/2
6th Sinquefield Cup 2018 2018Notable
Mamedyarov,S vs Grischuk,A1/2-1/2
Saint Louis Blitz 2018 2018Notable
Mamedyarov,S vs Grischuk,A1/2-1/2
Saint Louis Rapid 2018 2018Notable
Mamedyarov,S vs Svidler,P1/2-1/2
51st Biel GM 2018 2018Notable
Caruana,F vs Grischuk,A1/2-1/2
FIDE Candidates 2018 2018Notable
Aronian,L vs Grischuk,A1/2-1/2
FIDE Candidates 2018 2018Notable
So,W vs Nepomniachtchi,I1/2-1/2
9th London Classic 2017 2017Notable
Gelfand,B vs Giri,A1/2-1/2
Geneva Grand Prix 2017 2017Notable
Nakamura,Hi vs Svidler,P1/2-1/2
Moscow Grand Prix 2017 2017Notable
Aronian,L vs Nepomniachtchi,I1/2-1/2
79th Tata Steel GpA 2017Notable