Forever Chess GamesForever Chess Games Logo
CreateGiftsProductsGamesPlayersOpeningsTop 100FAQ

Explore

  • Players
  • Openings
  • Famous Games
  • Top 100 Games
  • World Championships

Create

  • Create Visualisation
  • How It Works
  • Gift Ideas

Eras

  • 1880s – Classical
  • 1960s – Fischer Era
  • 1990s – Kasparov Era
  • 2020s – Modern

Info

  • FAQ
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use

© 2026 Forever Chess Games. All Rights Reserved

  1. Home
  2. /Openings
  3. /King's Indian Defense: Kazakh Variation (E91)
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.

Top Players in this Opening

Firouzja,Alireza18 gamesSpassky, Boris V14 gamesAronian,L13 gamesPetrosian, Tigran V12 gamesPolugaevsky, Lev11 gamesMorozevich,A11 gamesNakamura,Hi11 gamesRadjabov,T11 gamesKamsky,G11 gamesGiri,A10 games

Related Openings

E90 - King's Indian Defense: Larsen Variation393E92 - King's Indian Defense: Exchange Variation532E93 - King's Indian Defense: Petrosian Variation, Keres Defense45E94 - King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation674E95 - King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation85E96 - King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Positional Defense, Main Line39E97 - King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Modern System587E98 - King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System125E99 - King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Classical System, Benko Attack121

Best Games

Gelfand,B vs Demchenko,A1-0
PNWCC Online Blitz JP 18 2020Notable
Grischuk,A vs Barthel,A1-0
GRENKE Rapid WCh 2010Notable
Gelfand,B vs Kramnik,V1-0
19th Amber Blindfold 2010Notable
Kramnik,V vs Mamedyarov,S1/2-1/2
Tal Memorial Blitz 2008Notable
Vallejo Pons,F vs Kamsky,G0-1
WCC Places 9-12 2005Notable
Lputian,S vs Mamedyarov,S1/2-1/2
FIDE WCh KO 2004Notable
Neverov,V vs Mamedyarov,S0-1
FIDE WCh KO 2004Notable
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Adams, Michael1/2-1/2
Linares 14th 1997Notable
Kamsky, Gata vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir1/2-1/2
Linares 1993Notable
Kasparov, Gary vs Dlugy, Maxim0-1
Wch-blitz 1988Notable
Grynszpan, Mariano vs Anand, Viswanathan1/2-1/2
Wch U20 1985Notable
Larsen, Bent vs Spassky, Boris V0-1
Linares 1983Notable
Polugaevsky, Lev vs Spassky, Boris V1/2-1/2
Toluca Interzonal 1982Notable
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

Explore More

All OpeningsAll Players