E96

King's Indian Defense: Orthodox Variation, Positional Defense, Main Line

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

Portisch, Lajos vs Liberzon, Vladimir M1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal • 1976
Sosonko, Gennadi vs Tal, Mihail1/2-1/2
Biel Interzonal • 1976
Petrosian, Tigran V vs Ljubojevic, Ljubomir1-0
Manila • 1974
Reshevsky, Samuel Herman vs Mecking, Henrique1-0
Sousse Interzonal • 1967
Portisch, Lajos vs Najdorf, Miguel0-1
Torremolinos • 1961
Reshevsky, Samuel Herman vs Najdorf, Miguel1-0
Helsinki olm • 1952
Mikhalevski,V vs Ivanchuk,V1/2-1/2
Gibraltar Masters • 2011
Fridman,D2 vs Ivanchuk,V1/2-1/2
9th Amplico Life Rapid • 2009
Malakhov,V vs Svidler,P1/2-1/2
World Cup • 2009
Finegold,B vs Nakamura,H1/2-1/2
US Open • 2007
Le Quang Liem vs Nguyen Van Huy1-0
ch-VIE Places • 2005
Beliavsky,A vs Sale,S1/2-1/2
5th HIT Open • 2000
Karpov, Anatoly vs Strikovic, Aleksa1/2-1/2
Villarrobledo rapid op • 1997
Komarov, Dimitri vs Svidler, Peter1/2-1/2
St Petersburg • 1997
Kramnik, Vladimir vs Watson, William N1-0
Bundesliga 9394 • 1994
Karpov, Anatoly vs Porubszki, Georg1-0
St Martin simul • 1992
Reshevsky, Samuel Herman vs Ciocaltea, Victor1/2-1/2
Beersheba • 1982
Najdorf, Miguel vs Schweber, Samuel1/2-1/2
Konex • 1979
Tal, Mihail vs Knaak, Rainer1-0
Tallinn • 1979
Torre, Eugenio vs Najdorf, Miguel1/2-1/2
Clarin • 1978

Explore More

All OpeningsAll Players