E91

King's Indian Defense: Kazakh Variation

Key moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2

The main line of the Classical KID, featuring the Mar del Plata variation where both sides launch pawn storms on opposite flanks. It leads to some of the most exciting positions in chess.

History & Notable Players

The Mar del Plata variation, where White plays d5 closing the centre and both sides attack on opposite wings, is one of the most dramatic strategic concepts in chess.

Best Games

Gelfand,B vs Demchenko,A1-0
PNWCC Online Blitz JP 18 • 2020★ Notable
Grischuk,A vs Barthel,A1-0
GRENKE Rapid WCh • 2010★ Notable
Gelfand,B vs Kramnik,V1-0
19th Amber Blindfold • 2010★ Notable
Kramnik,V vs Mamedyarov,S1/2-1/2
Tal Memorial Blitz • 2008★ Notable
Vallejo Pons,F vs Kamsky,G0-1
WCC Places 9-12 • 2005★ Notable
Lputian,S vs Mamedyarov,S1/2-1/2
FIDE WCh KO • 2004★ Notable
Neverov,V vs Mamedyarov,S0-1
FIDE WCh KO • 2004★ Notable
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Adams, Michael1/2-1/2
Linares 14th • 1997★ Notable
Kamsky, Gata vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir1/2-1/2
Linares • 1993★ Notable
Kasparov, Gary vs Dlugy, Maxim0-1
Wch-blitz • 1988★ Notable
Grynszpan, Mariano vs Anand, Viswanathan1/2-1/2
Wch U20 • 1985★ Notable
Larsen, Bent vs Spassky, Boris V0-1
Linares • 1983★ Notable
Polugaevsky, Lev vs Spassky, Boris V1/2-1/2
Toluca Interzonal • 1982★ Notable
Caruana,F vs Firouzja,Alireza1-0
TechM GCL Final 2025 • 2025
Giri,A vs Erigaisi,Arjun0-1
TechM GCL 2025 • 2025
Erigaisi,Arjun vs Gukesh,D1-0
Chess.com Classic Losers • 2025
So,W vs Dubov,Daniil1-0
Tata Steel India Blitz • 2024
So,W vs Caruana,F1/2-1/2
American Cup Elim • 2024
Carlsen,M vs Nakamura,Hi1-0
AI Cup Div 1 W • 2023
Abdusattorov,Nodirbek vs Rapport,R1-0
Armageddon Grand Final W • 2023

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